As rumors swirl about tension with Pat McAfee, Stephen A Smith makes a desperate attempt to shut down feud speculation

Stephen A. Smith is once again trying to shut down rumors about a supposed rift with his colleague Pat McAfee. The speculation has been circulating for a while, especially after reports resurfaced about tension between the two ESPN personalities. Smith recently addressed the situation during his appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger.

According to the New York Post, rumors about tension between Smith and McAfee have circulated for years after an alleged disagreement behind the scenes. The outlet previously reported that the two once had a heated phone call connected to a project Smith was executive producing through his company, Mr. SAS Productions.

The incident sparked speculation about their working relationship at ESPN. Smith used the recent interview to push back on that narrative and explain what actually happened behind the scenes.

So this whole Stephen A and McAfee feud might not be real after all

During the interview, Smith explained that the entire situation came down to a misunderstanding. Smith has built a reputation for blunt commentary across sports media, including moments where he delivered a fierce reality check that made fans question the team’s worth about the New Orleans Pelicans. According to him, McAfee believed he had done something that he actually did not do.

Once the confusion was cleared up, Smith said the issue was settled quickly between them. “We had a difference of opinion about something,” Smith explained during the interview. He added that McAfee thought he had done something he did not do.

According to Smith, the entire situation came down to a misunderstanding. He said someone else had actually been responsible for what Pat McAfee believed he did, and once the facts were sorted out, the two were completely fine moving forward. Smith also addressed the rumors that had circulated about tension between them, including reports from about two years ago claiming the two had a heated phone call during which McAfee allegedly called him a “m***********.”

That disagreement reportedly centered around a project Smith was executive producing through his company, Mr. SAS Productions. The project was expected to air on ESPN. Disagreements are not unusual when big personalities are involved in major media projects.

The situation also sparked another rumor that grabbed attention at the time. Some reports suggested Smith had banned McAfee from appearing on ESPN’s First Take. That claim would have been a major move considering how closely both figures are tied to the network.

Smith pushed back against those claims when the reports first surfaced. Speaking on his self titled podcast, he denied that any ban existed and made it clear there was no feud behind the scenes. “There is no dispute whatsoever. Pat McAfee is my teammate,” Smith said during that episode. He added that McAfee would always be welcome on First Take.

Smith also said he would gladly appear on McAfee’s show as well. He explained that he believes in rooting for the people he works with rather than competing against them. “A rising tide lifts all boats,” Smith said, making it clear he prefers collaboration over conflict.