It's been two years since Max Kellerman was removed as the debate partner of Stephen A. Smith on ESPN's "First Take," but discussion about the split is back in the media again.
Smith reiterated his stance on "The Joe Budden Podcast" nearly two weeks ago, saying that he and Kellerman weren't working and bringing in the ratings. However, Smith got some push back from former NFL players like Terrell Owens and Marcellus Wiley, the latter of which said that Smith didn't realize the "animal" that Kellerman is.
"Stephen A. the entertainer had to meet Max Kellerman, the educator," Wiley said on his YouTube show last week.
Related: Stephen A. Smith and Dan Le Batard finally face off
Same question, Same answer for damn-near two years now: Max & I weren’t working in the end. I wanted to win. So I didn’t want that duo. Does mean he’s isn’t smart, talented and that he’s not a good guy. I have nothing against him. I wish him well. Just needed a change. That’s all https://t.co/wDJ0pL7eXK
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) September 16, 2023
Former ESPN host Amin Elhassan responded to Wiley's claims on "The Dan Le Batard Show" on Sept. 24 and agreed with the premise that Smith wanted a White antagonist, but was shocked by the intelligence of Kellerman including on issues involving race.
"Max is a certifiable genius," Elhassan said. "What Stephen A. was looking for was a foil. Someone to intelligently argue the other side, but the other side being, 'I need a White guy to argue against me and has to have intelligent enough argument to keep up with me.' The problem is he got the wrong white guy because he wanted someone in the vain of Skip Bayless."
Related: Stephen A. Smith goes on lengthy rant, explains origin of feud with Terrell Owens
Elhassan clarified that he worked closely with Wiley and Kellerman in the past, but is not as close with Smith.
Wiley's claims of one of the core elements on the issue between Kellerman and Smith being race-related also stemmed from a callout by Owens on "First Take" in 2019 which sparked a back and forth between Smith and Owens over the last few weeks.
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