Just last week, the world of sports media was shaken up as ESPN let go of more than 20 on-air personalities, including Jalen Rose and Keyshawn Johnson. Among those let go by the network was Max Kellerman. After successful runs at HBO and CNN, Kellerman ascended to a starring role on one of ESPN’s premier platforms, First Take. He worked alongside Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith before being removed from his role in 2021.
“I don’t want anybody to assume Max Kellerman doesn’t work hard, Max Kellerman is a bad person, Max Kellerman is not somebody anybody should want to work with. That’s not what that was about,” Stephen A. Smith said when asked about First Take‘s decision to move on from Kellerman.
“It was about that a debate show requires certain things that I believe he did not bring to the table when it came to sitting opposite of me.”
Two years removed from his departure from the show, Kellerman and ESPN parted ways. During a recent episode of FanDuel’s The Stephen A. Smith show, Kellerman’s former colleague discussed the network’s decision to let him go.
“I’m even gonna miss Max Kellerman,” Smith said.
“I know y’all thought I wouldn’t. I am not happy that he is gone. We all know what history we had. We all know what happened with [him] and I parting ways on ‘First Take.’ I don’t want the brother unemployed. I want him gainfully employed. I want him [to have] a job and a career.”
As Smith reflected on ESPN’s most recent round of layoffs, he said that it wouldn’t be the last round of cuts at the company and hinted that he could be next.
“This ain’t the end. More is coming,” he continued.
“And yes, ladies and gentlemen, I could be next. Let me tell you all something. Don’t ever, ever, ever in your life as a Black person take anything for granted. I told you before when white folks catch a cold, Black folks catch pneumonia…The one thing I could tell you about Stephen A, this ain’t 2009. I really didn’t see it coming. My eyes are always wide open now. I’m never comfortable. I never take anything for granted and I never assume that I’m safe.”
I will miss the colleagues of mine who were let go this week dearly pic.twitter.com/lNbuDjRG8s
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 4, 2023
