The SAS, Michelle Beadle Feud Dates Back To 2014

The feud between Stephen A. Smith and Michelle Beadle over Smith’s new SiriusXM gig centers on a contentious timeslot change announced on June 4, 2025, that reignited a decade-long personal and professional rift. Below is a detailed account of the feud, incorporating the context of their history and the recent SiriusXM shakeup, with a focus on their public exchange of words.

The animosity between Stephen A. Smith and Michelle Beadle dates back to 2014, when both were at ESPN. 

The conflict began when Smith, on First Take, commented on the NFL’s two-game suspension of Ray Rice for domestic violence, suggesting that women might play a role in “provoking” such acts. He stated, “We know you have no business putting your hands on a woman,” but added that people should consider “what you might do to provoke” abuse. 

Beadle, who had experienced an abusive relationship, publicly criticized Smith on Twitter (now X), writing, “So I was just forced to watch this morning’s First Take. A) I’ll never feel clean again B) I’m now aware that I can provoke my own beating.” 

Her remarks sparked a public spat, with Smith issuing a series of tweets apologizing and clarifying his intent, though he stood by his broader point about considering all factors. ESPN suspended Smith for a week, from July 29 to August 6, 2014, and he later called the incident the “most egregious error” of his career on First Take. Beadle, however, remained unforgiving, later stating, “I don’t respect him."

This week Stephen A. Smith announced on The Howard Stern Show that he would join SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio with two new shows, including a daily sports talk show from 1-3 p.m. ET starting September 2, 2025. This show directly replaced the timeslot of Beadle & Decker, hosted by Michelle Beadle and Cody Decker, which had aired from 12-3 p.m. ET for two years since August 2023. 

Beadle and Decker were blindsided, learning of the change through a Hollywood Reporter article rather than from SiriusXM management, who gave them only a few hours’ notice and initially withheld details, including Smith’s involvement.

During their June 4, 2025, show, Beadle expressed her frustration, opening with, “Welcome to the Lame Duck and Who Knew? show here,” as Decker shouted “fired” in the background. She called the situation “a little embarrassing,” noting, “I’ve been in this business for 20-plus years. I’ve been treated poorly a couple times. This didn’t feel good, I’m not gonna lie.”