Stephen A. Smith made quite the awkward on-air blunder while discussing the Houston Texans’ 30-6 playoff win Monday over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While recapping the matchup on ESPN’s “First Take” on Tuesday, the sports commentator misidentified the Texans’ star wide receiver, Christian Kirk, as the late right-wing political commentator Charlie Kirk.
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“We saw Charlie Kirk catch eight receptions for 144 yards,” Smith said before co-host Shae Peppler Cornette interjected to remind him: “Christian Kirk.”
Smith quickly corrected himself. “I’m sorry, I apologize. Oh, my God, Christian Kirk.”
The verbal slip, which was shared on X by the sports media account Awful Announcing, has already racked up more than 11 million views.
Christian Kirk and his team will play the New England Patriots on Sunday in an NFL divisional round playoff game. It appears that he has not publicly commented on the slip-up.
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith and the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Getty Images/YouTube.Charlie Kirk, who co-founded the right-wing nonprofit Turning Point USA, built a massive social media following by holding debates on contentious cultural issues, where he often made incendiary, racist or sexist remarks. He was shot and killed while speaking with students at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter the killing, Smith condemned anyone celebrating Kirk’s death on his SiriusXM radio show.
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“I don’t care what his political beliefs were. I don’t care what he felt. I care about the fact that a man was gunned down in front of two of his children, who are 5 years of age or less,” he said during the Sep. 11 episode.
He also praised the New York Yankees for honoring Kirk with a moment of silence ahead of a game against the Detroit Tigers.
“Props to the New York Yankees organization last night for having a moment of silence,” Smith said. “We’re not supposed to condone stuff like this. We’re not supposed to say it’s OK. I don’t give a **** who you are, Black, white or anything in between.”
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