Alexis Ohanian made waves when he confronted Stephen A. Smith during an episode of ESPN’s First Take. Ohanian questioned Smith’s earlier remarks about his wife, Serena Williams, and challenged his authority in offering marital advice. He began with what seemed a rhetorical jab: “Stephen A. Smith, I think you had some marriage advice for me. Is that right?”
Smith, appearing virtually, blinked and replied, “Well you know what, headlines are headlines. We can get into that another time.” He followed with a softer admission: “I ain’t qualified, my brother.” The exchange made clear that Ohanian aimed to shift the narrative and put Smith on the defensive.
Ohanian did not relent. He asked, “’Cause you hadn’t been married before, right?” He added: “I give advice to plenty of founders who want to build billion-dollar companies. And the reason I do that is because I build billion-dollar companies. So I generally try to stay in my lane in the advice department.” That line struck at the core of Smith’s earlier commentary.
Smith Responds on His Own Platform
In turn, Smith addressed the confrontation on The Stephen A. Smith Show. He said he had been “caught off guard” but chose not to escalate things on national TV. “I wasn’t going to get into it on national television,” he said. “I’m a professional.” He also explained that Ohanian framed Smith’s prior comments by questioning his personal life: “He says, ‘I give advice about building companies … who am I to say something like that? … I think that’s a fair comment on his part. I don’t have to agree with it, but I took no offense to it.”
Still, Smith affirmed he would have defended his original stance in a more respectful tone. “I would’ve made my case in a more respectable manner,” he said, referencing the fallout from his remarks about Serena’s Super Bowl halftime appearance. He reiterated, “I respect him. That’s her husband. That’s his wife. And evidently, he didn’t like what I said. I respect it.”
The root of the tension lies in Smith’s harsh critique of Williams’ cameo during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance. He questioned why a married woman would “troll her ex,” and mused, “If I’m married and my wife is going to troll her ex, go back to his a––.” In the weeks that followed, he maintained his viewpoint, presenting it as a “man’s perspective” rather than a gendered attack.
Ohanian’s appearance on First Take served to turn the tables. He defended his wife’s autonomy and called out Smith’s lack of authority to speak on matters he has not lived. The moment, aired live, brought into focus the tangled intersections of celebrity, marriage, media commentary, and public accountability.
At the end of day, Smith conceded a sliver of ground. Though he stood by some of his claims, he said, “I have absolutely no issue with him wanting to address that situation with me. Because that’s her husband and I certainly meant no disrespect.”