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Stephen A. Smith is warning all of his ESPN colleagues following the company's layoffs on Monday and Tuesday.
ESPN is undergoing the latest round of cuts this week, as several big names, including Karl Ravech, Bart Scott, Cam Newton, Ryan Clark, David Lloyd, Tom Pelissero and others are being let go from the company.
Jimmy Pitaro, the President of ESPN, released an internal memo to all employees amid the layoffs.
“Team: Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN. Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future. As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today. While most of the job impacts are tied to the acquisition, we will also notify colleagues in other parts of the company today that their positions have been impacted. We are committed to treating employees with compassion and respect and to providing support as they navigate this transition. Even in moments like these, the strength of ESPN comes from our people, our teamwork and our shared mission to serve sports fans,” Pitaro said in a statement published by Awful Announcing.
Smith, meanwhile, remains one of the faces of the network. The "First Take" star is reportedly earning around $20 million per year.
The longtime ESPN star was publicly unhappy by one of the company's layoffs - letting go of Ryan Clark, a consistent "First Take" guest.
“Ryan Clark, someone I consider to be arguably the best NFL analyst in America, is no longer with ESPN,” Smith said on his personal podcast on Tuesday. “I can’t even tell y’all how much that hurts. He’s a man, so he’ll handle it the way men do. But I’m going to miss him, and I’m not happy about this decision one bit. The bosses know I’m not happy about this decision. I’ve made that very, very clear.”
Smith adds 'warning' to his fellow ESPN coworkers
Smith, who was let go by ESPN all the way back in 2009, warned his fellow coworkers who remain at the company on Tuesday: any of us could be next.
The "First Take" star understands that no one's position in this business is secure. While others might have been let go on Tuesday, anyone currently at ESPN could be next - even Stephen A. Smith.
ESPN, meanwhile, is citing its acquisition of NFL Network as a reason for the layoffs. Of course, this is only the latest of several rounds of layoffs at ESPN in recent years. And it likely will not be the last.
Smith is warning all of his ESPN coworkers to do whatever they can for now, because you don't know what's coming.
