Stephen A. Smith Faces Criticism Over Regret Remarks on Kamala Harris

Stephen A. Smith, a prominent ESPN personality, faced repeated questioning on a podcast regarding his comments about regretting his vote for former Vice President Kamala Harris. Hosts Cari Champion and Jemele Hill, of ‘Flagrant and Funny,’ suggested Smith might be targeting Black women with his remarks.

The discussion focused on Smith’s statement that the Democratic Party aimed to install Harris as Joe Biden’s replacement in the 2024 presidential race. Smith referred to Harris’s appearance on ABC’s ‘The View’ in October 2024, where she expressed no regrets about following Biden’s policies. Smith critiqued this as a missed opportunity for Harris, suggesting her loyalty to Biden overshadowed her presidential ambitions.

Smith’s critique was that Harris, with her background as a former state attorney general, senator, and vice president, should have seized the chance to differentiate herself from Biden during the interview. He questioned whether her loyalty was compromising her pursuit of the presidency.

“You trying to win a damn presidency? This is embarrassing. Do you want the presidency or don’t you?” Smith remarked.

Hill defended Harris, indicating she was aligning herself with Biden’s achievements. Champion questioned why Smith felt the need to express regret after supporting Harris throughout the election.

Smith clarified his stance, saying he had supported Harris leading up to the election, but spoke candidly afterward about his feelings. Champion accused Smith of specifically targeting Black women, suggesting he could have critiqued Harris without noting regret.

Smith responded, “Can you concede that it’s a disagreement as opposed to a disparagement?” The debate intensified over Smith’s dispute with Rep. Jasmine Crockett.

The controversy drew commentary from Curtis Houck, managing editor of the Media Research Center’s NewsBusters.org. Houck praised Smith’s honesty and urged more transparency from media commentators.

Smith’s remarks were part of a broader discussion, including an interview with Sage Steele, where he reconfirmed his regret regarding his vote for Harris. He believed Harris could compromise and work across party lines but felt disillusioned with the Democratic Party’s clarity post-election.

Smith previously expressed similar sentiments during an interview with Bill Maher in January 2025, indicating a failed belief in Harris’s leadership potential. He suggested that without a primary, Harris might not have been the Democratic nominee.

Fox News provided additional context to Smith’s comments.