Smith's 'Thumbs Down'.
NABJ Awards Stephen A. Smith 'Thumbs Down' for Commentary on Black Women, Sparks Reaction.
Key Points
NABJ President Errin Haines stated that partnerships with sponsors do not muzzle the organization, emphasizing editorial independence with lines such as 'Partnership does not mean silence' and 'Partnership does not mean that you write a check to NABJ and we surrender our voice.'
The NABJ cycle awarded a record five 'Thumbs Down' honors, with Stephen A. Smith among them and other recipients including FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, CBS News, DuJuan McCoy, and The Washington Post.
Smith’s post-ceremony reaction on X included the line 'This is the epitome of Christmas arriving early' and a pledge that 'mine is coming,' signaling an upcoming public rebuttal.
The award ceremony occurred during NABJ's Salute to Excellence convention at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta on Aug. 15, highlighting NABJ's ongoing efforts to hold figures accountable for coverage of the Black community.
The Thumbs Down Award is defined by NABJ as being awarded to individuals or organizations for 'especially insensitive, racist or stereotypical reporting, commentary, photography or cartooning about the Black community' or for practices at odds with NABJ's goals.
The National Association of Black Journalists handed ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith a 2026 'Thumbs Down' award on Aug. 15 at its Salute to Excellence convention in Atlanta, citing a 'public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women' in politics, sports, and media, according to Complex and Yahoo News. The ceremony, held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, marked a record five 'Thumbs Down' honors in a single NABJ cycle.
Smith fired back on X almost immediately, calling the award 'the epitome of Christmas arriving early' and warning that 'mine is coming' — a signal he plans a full public rebuttal, Complex reported.
NABJ Defines the Thumbs Down and Why Smith Got It
The NABJ Thumbs Down award goes to individuals or organizations for 'especially insensitive, racist or stereotypical reporting, commentary, photography or cartooning about the Black community,' according to The Big Lead. It can also target practices that run against NABJ's core goals.
For Smith specifically, NABJ said his commentary reinforces harmful narratives and undermines fair representation of Black women. The organization did not cite a single incident but pointed to a sustained, recurring public pattern across his ESPN platform and other media appearances, Yahoo News reported.
Four Other Recipients Round Out a Record Year
Smith was not alone. The 2026 cycle produced four other 'Thumbs Down' recipients: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, CBS News, DuJuan McCoy of Circle City Broadcasting and WISH-TV, and The Washington Post, according to Yahoo News. Five awards in one cycle is a record for the organization.
The range of recipients — from a federal regulator to a major broadcast network to a local TV owner — shows NABJ casting a wide net. The group treats the honor as an accountability tool aimed at anyone whose actions it believes harm coverage of Black communities, The Big Lead noted.
NABJ President: Sponsors Don't Buy Our Silence
NABJ President Errin Haines pushed back on any suggestion that corporate partnerships muzzle the group. 'Partnership does not mean silence,' she said. 'Partnership does not mean that you write a check to NABJ and we surrender our voice,' according to Yahoo News.
Her statement addressed a real tension. ESPN's parent company Disney has financial ties across media, and critics sometimes question whether journalism groups pull punches with big sponsors. Haines made clear that editorial independence remains non-negotiable for NABJ.
Smith Promises a Response, Setting Up a Public Fight
Rather than brushing off the award, Smith leaned into it. His post on X framed the moment as a gift — 'Christmas arriving early' — and he promised a detailed public reply, Complex reported. The combative tone fits a pattern Smith has used before when facing criticism from media organizations.
The standoff puts two high-profile brands on a collision course. Smith is one of ESPN's biggest stars and a growing political commentator. NABJ is the largest organization of Black journalists in the country. Whatever Smith says next will likely keep the debate over his commentary — and its impact on Black women in public life — running well past the Atlanta convention, Complex and The Big Lead noted.
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