Stephen A Smith provided a viral moment on Tuesday’s episode of First Take on ESPN when he referred to a current NFL player as “Charlie Kirk”.
Stephen A Smith’s “Charlie Kirk” Gaffe Spreads Through Social Media
While discussing Houston wide receiver Christian Kirk’s performance, Smith momentarily mixed up the player’s name, and the slip-up quickly became a talking point across social media:
“We saw Charlie Kirk catch eight receptions for 144 yards… I apologize. Oh my God. Christian Kirk”
Smith immediately recognized the mistake and correcting himself. The moment drew laughter from the First Take desk, and a predictable firestorm followed on social media as viewers pointed out the irony in the gaffe.
The long-time ESPN personality has become one of the main faces of modern sports media over the years, with Smith’s quotes and antics often making weekly headlines. But there has been some criticism lately, as he has begun casting a broader net that includes politics, a space that breeds perhaps more divisiveness than even sports.
Most recently, Smith raised eyebrows with his analysis of the Renee Good murder in Minneapolis. He said that the ICE official in question was “completely justified” in his actions, which has been met with ridicule from both his peers and the general public.
"We saw Charlie Kirk catch 8 receptions for 144 yards…I apologize. Oh my God. Christian Kirk" – Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/PPQXMjXFEr
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 13, 2026
Last summer’s murder of political activist Charlie Kirk sparked nationwide commentary for weeks. It continues to be a major talking point in nearly every day conversation, especially for someone so engrained in the media space, and the slip-up by Smith is understandable given the “C. Kirk” moniker that is shared with the NFL wide receiver.
But given Smith’s recent history, the backlash on social media has been heavy.
