Stephen A. Smith (Photo Via Instagram/@stephenasmith)
Even on vacation, Stephen A. Smith can’t stay out of the talks. The outspoken ESPN personality, who’s been away from First Take for the past two weeks, popped up last week on NewsNation. The topic? Not the NBA Finals, not NFL training camps. Nope, he went all in on the Epstein client list debate. And his comments lit a fire on social media.

Smith told host Chris Cuomo he couldn’t care less about the rumored list of Jeffrey Epstein’s high-profile associates.

“It’s really, really surprising that this matters,” Smith said on-air. “Of course I think there’s a list, but I don’t know. I suspect, but I have no knowledge nor do I care.”

He added, “This client list has no effect on me whatsoever – I have a life.”

Fans Aren’t Taking Smith’s Remark Lightly

Stephen A. Smith (Image Credit: @LegionHoops/X)
Let’s just say the internet did not let that slide.

The backlash came quickly and harshly, especially on X (formerly Twitter), where users called out Smith for what they saw as dismissiveness over a deeply serious topic.

“Stephen A. Smith says he doesn’t care about child predators because he is too busy ‘living his life.’ That’s not indifference dude… that is moral failure,” one user wrote.

Another called his attitude dangerous: “Epstein’s client list matters because justice matters. Shame on Stephen A. Smith.”

A third didn’t hold back at all: “This proves Stephen A. Smith is exactly as dumb as we thought he was.”

Smith later responded to the uproar during a conversation with TMZ. He doubled down. “What I have to say is that I don’t care, and the reason that I don’t care is because everybody has an opinion,” he said.

Smith’s comments come during a rare break from ESPN, where he signed a $100 million extension earlier this year. With the NFL season still weeks away, he seemed to be enjoying some downtime. But the backlash hit quickly, raising questions about whether ESPN’s huge contract with Smith is a risky gamble.

Whether or not Smith truly meant what he said, the reaction shows how sensitive and serious the Epstein topic remains for many Americans. And for a man who built a career on having strong takes, this one might’ve crossed a line for a lot of fans.

Fearne Cotton has broken her silence on split from husband Jesse Wood in her first TV interview since the breakup.

Joining Lorraine Kelly on Monday’s episode of the ITV show, the TV presenter, 43, also gave an health update after having two tumours removed from jaw.

Fearne announced her split from Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones bass guitarist Ronnie Wood, in December after 10 years of marriage.

She has since made swipes at Jesse and moved on with TV director Elliot Hegarty, with the pair having been seen kissing during a recent night out.

Fearne has had a difficult few months after undergoing surgery to remove two benign tumours from her jawline, just days before her split with Jesse emerged.

She told host Lorraine: ‘It’s all very amicable and kids are doing great. I am in a very good place.’place.’

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Fearne Cotton has broken her silence on split from husband Jesse Wood in her first TV interview since the breakup

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Fearne announced her split from Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones bass guitarist Ronnie Wood , in December after 10 years of marriage (both pictured in February 2024)

Discussing her recent surgery, she added: ‘I feel very grateful to have completely recovered.

‘I feel really good. I have a lot of people reaching out who have had the same thing.’

Davina McCall, 56, announced in November she’d been diagnosed with a colloid cyst, a rare type of benign brain tumour, and has supported Fearne.

She continued: ‘Everyone needs a Davina. She’s been amazing, weird that we had the same health thing going on at the same time. She’s so calming and we speak every day. She is just the best

It comes after Fearne has seemingly made another thinly-veiled dig at her ex-husband as she gushed that she is the happiest she’s ever been in a positive update.

Speaking to Scott Mills on his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, Fearne gushed that she is ‘really happy’ and is ‘springing out of bed in the morning ready for life’.

Scott, who has known Fearne for 25 years, said he has never seen her ‘more positive or happier’, prompting Fearne to agree and reply: ‘Yeah I feel great!’