Stephen A. Smith doesn’t think this is the end of the layoffs at ESPN.
Speaking on his podcast “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on Monday, July 3, Smith said that he expects even more layoffs to come just days after ESPN announced it would be letting go of 20 notable on-air talents.
“Let’s deal with reality -- this ain’t the end. More is coming,” Smith said.
DON’T MISS: ESPN Layoffs: Prominent On-Air Talents Among The Network's 20-Person Staff Reduction
Smith shouted out some of the cuts, including Jalen Rose, who Smith had worked with on “NBA Countdown,” and Max Kellerman, Smith’s longtime partner on “First Take.”
Smith also acknowledged that this is a fate that many at the network had been bracing for when ESPN’s parent company Disney (DIS) first announced it would be cutting 7,000 jobs in March.
“Everybody associated with ESPN knew that this day would arrive. Folks as individuals were hoping it just wasn’t them,” Smith said.
He also defended his network, saying that it’s more the fault of “the times we’re living in.”
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While Smith is one of the faces of ESPN, he’s not dismissive of the fact that he could also be on the chopping block, especially considering he and ESPN already separated once nearly 15 years ago.
“I could be next,” Smith said. “This ain’t 2009 -- I really didn’t see it coming. My eyes are always wide open now.”
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