ESPN Producer Rips 'Angry Black Man' Stephen A. Smith in Leaked Audio

Stephen A. Smith may be ESPN’s $100 million man, but if leaked audio of a producer railing against the sports commentator is authentic, not everyone at the network appears to believe Smith is worth his paycheck.

Related: Stephen A. Smith Signs Record-Breaking New ESPN Contract

The recording, which was shared by James O’Keefe of O’Keefe Media Group, is reportedly the voice of ESPN producer and assignment editor Ryan Bertrand. It’s unclear who Bertrand is talking to or where the alleged conversation took place, but he is explaining who Smith is to someone. Here’s what he says:

We have this one guy, his name is Stephen A. Smith. He plays the Angry Black Man on TV. The ‘Angry Black Man’ stereotype is basically: you’re loud, you talk over people. What you say is not necessarily important; it’s more how loud you are and how… you deliver your speech. He does that pretty well. I think the higher-ups at ESPN and Disney see that he’s like this Angry Black Man.

He goes on Fox News probably like once a week. And he’ll talk about, like, Gaza. And he has no idea about Gaza. Talking about, like, his views on Gaza. And we’re like, ‘Brother, you were just talking about the Lakers three hours ago. What do you know about Gaza?'

Bertrand went on to explain Smith’s current beef with Bronny James and how “It’s just this whole embarrassing thing that we’re all rolling our eyes at.”

ESPN LEAKS: OMG Obtains Audio of @ESPN Producer Calling @stephenasmith an “Angry Black Man,” Says Staff “Think He’s Crazy” and “Has No Idea” About Politics

Amid Smith’s ongoing discussions about the Middle East, leaked audio reveals an ESPN producer questioning his credibility… pic.twitter.com/a0twbLJFPa

— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) March 21, 2025

Bertrand claimed that the ESPN staff all think Smith is “crazy” and “just trying to create attention,” though he did concede that attracting attention is part of Smith’s job “I guess” and that “he gets paid a lot of money to… create chaos, to create controversy.”

“So he’s like a grifter?” the woman Bertrand is speaking with asks, to which he replies: “Yeah, that’s a good way to put it. Very much, ‘Whoever’s buying my bullsh*t, I will sell you my bullsh*t.’ Which is like Fox News sometimes.”

Ouch!

Neither ESPN nor Smith has yet to formally respond to the audio, either to confirm its authenticity or to offer a formal statement about its contents. Bertrand, however, has privatized his Twitter/X page since the clip leaked and also deleted his LinkedIn profile.

No doubt that Smith will have plenty to say about the charges against him.