NABJ gave Stephen A. Smith a Thumbs Down award at its Saturday night gala in Atlanta, putting the host and political commentator at the center of a public rebuke. Smith answered on X hours later, saying, “I’ve shut my mouth for years. Now y’all started something.”
The organization said the award addressed what it described as repeated disparagement of prominent Black women. NABJ’s published criteria say the annual distinction goes to a person or organization tied to especially insensitive, racist or stereotypical coverage or commentary about the Black community, or practices contrary to the group’s goals.
Salute to Excellence Awards Gala
NABJ announced the decision during its Salute to Excellence Awards Gala at the organization’s annual convention. A video of the presentation was shared by Washington Association of Black Journalists President Phil Lewis, who said NABJ presented the award to Brendan Carr, DuJuan McCoy, and The Washington Post.
That presentation said Smith had established a recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media. It also said such commentary reinforces harmful narratives and undermines fair and respectful representation of Black women in public discourse.
Stephen A. Smith on X
Smith responded with two posts on X. He wrote, “This is the epitome of Christmas arriving early. The @NABJ wants to call folks out, fine! You had your turn, now mine is coming. And make no mistake…..,I’m coming,” and followed with, “Remember @NABJ, you asked for it. I’ve shut my mouth for years. Now y’all started something.”
His response turned the gala decision into an open dispute. NABJ President Errin Haines said, “The door is open. The conversation is available, and the opportunity to change is real. But NABJ will not be silent. Not in this moment, and not on my watch.”
NABJ criteria
The clip online did not identify any particular women or remarks that led to the decision, leaving the organization’s broad criticism tied to a category of commentary rather than a specific cited incident. Lewis’s video also showed that NABJ gave five recipients the Thumbs Down award, making Smith one of several names pulled into the same public rebuke.
For Smith, the immediate next step is public rather than procedural: he has already answered, and NABJ has said the door is open for recipients to respond and change their conduct. The dispute now rests on whether either side narrows the criticism to specific comments or keeps the fight at the level of broad standards and public posture.
