Michelle Obama has savaged ESPN and Stephen A. Smith, accusing the network and its stars of being no different to ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta.’
ESPN has gone through a shift in its programming over the past decade, with a surge in fiery panel shows such as ‘First Take,’ ‘Get Up’ and ‘The Pat McAfee Show’.
The network has also built personalities including Smith, who recently signed a $100million contract and has even teased a possible run for the White House.
But Smith and ESPN have been mocked by the former First Lady, who suggested the network has become its own reality TV show.
‘It’s all a sociological study. They think that sports is better reality TV, I’m like, “it’s the same thing!”‘ Obama said on her ‘IMO’ podcast. ‘There’s drama in sports. If I listen to ESPN for an hour, it’s like watching the “Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
‘It’s the same drama, and they’re yelling at each other, and they don’t get along, you know? I mean, Stephen A. Smith, he’s just like every other talk show host.’
Michelle Obama has compared ESPN and its stars to reality show ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’
ESPN star Stephen A. Smith recently signed a $100m contract and teased a run for president
It was then jokingly put to Obama that Smith would be a ‘great Real Housewife’. The popular reality franchise details the lives of well-off women from different regions.
‘That’s why I’m like, “what’s the difference?” It’s just sociological drama,’ Obama continued.
‘The fact that people over seasons of working still can’t get along. They still have the same arguments and it’s not just women. But this happens in sports, too. I find it fascinating.’
ESPN recently called time on longtime show ‘Around the Horn’ and on the final episode, contestant Tim Cowlishaw bemoaned the network ‘hiring athletes instead of journalists.’
McAfee, Jason Kelce and Ryan Clark are among the ex-professional sports stars who are now prominent voices on ESPN.
