Stephen A. Smith feels that when the Katt Williams interview went viral, Shannon Sharpe became a target

Smith chastised people who appeared to be enjoying seeing Sharpe’s possible demise.

In the face of mounting controversy, Stephen A. Smith is steadfastly supporting his co-host Shannon Sharpe on First Take, expressing dissatisfaction with the current public scrutiny and hostility Sharpe has experienced following accusations of sexual assault.

Smith discussed the continuing sexual assault lawsuit against Sharpe in an interview with radio presenter Big Boy. He expressed his belief that the intense response from some in the media and elsewhere is not a coincidence.

“People have been after him since he did Katt Williams,” the Queens, New York native remarked, alluding to the controversial interview that received millions of views in the days following its publication in January 2024 and in which Williams offered his opinions about a number of celebrities and his career. 

Because of the figures he generated, the success it had, and his ability to ride that wave, Smith claimed that they had been at his throat.

Smith didn’t hold back from criticizing what he perceives to be a hostile retaliation directed against Sharpe. Smith acknowledged that the litigation will inevitably be discussed in public, but he took issue with the tenor and vigor of some detractors’ remarks. 

“I’m talking about the zeal with which they do it, not about what people are talking about or what they have to say,” he said.

It’s heartbreaking to see the glee some people are getting from making fun of him. You can talk about anything, but we can tell the difference in the flavor you’re adding to an equation when you’re discussing someone with joy and glee in your voice, and when you’re discussing the type of situation they’re in. And that’s the thing that bothers me.

Smith ended by expressing his worry about Sharpe’s personal situation as well as the potential effects on First Take. I feel so bad for him because of all the wonderful things he has been accomplishing and the possibility that everything could go wrong.

“As a show, I’m sorry because we’re better with him than without him, but for now, he needs to organize his house and do everything in his power to move on from this.”

In January 2024, Sharpe’s widely shared Club Shay Shay interview with comedian Katt Williams went viral, establishing Club Shay Shay as a powerful force and greatly increasing Sharpe’s public prominence.

Since a lawsuit was filed against him by a Jane Doe, who claims that Sharpe sexually assaulted her after they started dating in 2023, when the alleged victim was 19 years old, the former NFL great turned sports broadcaster has been enmeshed in scandal.

The $50 million lawsuit, which came to light in April 2025, contains grave allegations that have not only drawn a lot of media attention but also clouded Sharpe’s reputation and fledgling media career.