The National Association of Black Journalists has given Stephen A. Smith its 2026 “Thumbs Down” Award, citing a “recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports and media.” NABJ named Smith as a recipient during its Salute to Excellence Awards Gala at the organisation’s annual convention in Atlanta.

The Thumbs Down Award recognises especially insensitive, racist or stereotypical coverage or commentary about the Black community, or practices that conflict with NABJ’s goals of accurate representation. Other recipients included FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, CBS, media executive DuJuan McCoy, owner, president and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting, and The Washington Post.

Smith welcomed the confrontation on X, calling the award “the epitome of Christmas arriving early.” He warned NABJ that its opportunity to criticise him had passed and that his response was coming. In a later line, he wrote: “I’ve shut my mouth for years. Now y’all started something.”

Speaking broadly about the recipients, NABJ President Errin Haines described the award as a call for improvement rather than permanent condemnation. “The door is open. The conversation is available and the opportunity to change is real,” she said. “But NABJ will not be silent. Not in this moment and not on my watch.”

Being Loud Does Not Make Stephen A. Smith’s Criticism Fair

Stephen A. Smith has built an enormously successful career by speaking loudly, confidently and constantly. However, volume is not the same as insight, and being willing to criticise everyone does not automatically make those criticisms fair.

The award is not about silencing a Black man for having opinions. It asks whose mistakes Smith magnifies, what language he uses and whether he applies the same standards consistently. Black women are not above criticism, no one should be, but criticism can still reproduce misogynoir when it repeatedly treats Black women as uniquely dishonest, unqualified, unlikeable or undeserving of grace. Pointing out that Smith has also attacked Black men does not answer the concern about how he speaks about Black women.

For years, Smith’s influence has grown despite repeated criticism of his confrontational style. ESPN has rewarded the shouting, dramatic declarations and personal feuds because they attract attention. He rarely needs to offer a detailed argument when the performance itself becomes the story.

Final Thoughts

That is why the award feels overdue. It asks whether Smith has used one of America’s largest sports-media platforms responsibly, particularly when directing criticism at Black women who already face harsher public judgement. It also challenges the industry that continues to reward outrage while pretending it has no control over the culture that outrage creates.

His immediate decision to turn the award into another public confrontation reinforced the criticism of his media style. Instead of considering why an organisation representing Black journalists reached this conclusion, he made accountability into fresh material for his brand.

His supporters will probably describe the award as proof that powerful institutions cannot control him. But criticism from other Black journalists is not evidence of a conspiracy. Black people do not have to agree with Smith simply because he is Black, just as Smith does not have to agree with every Black woman he discusses.

Smith earned the Thumbs Down Award through a pattern that NABJ believed deserved public scrutiny. He is free to challenge that assessment, but a louder response will not automatically disprove it. At some point, the performance must give way to reflection.

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