No, Stephen A., Pat McAfee Doesn't Have It Better Than You Because He's White

Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee are arguably the two biggest individual stars at ESPN today. 

Smith told the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast that he appreciates what McAfee brings to the brand. However, he says the network doesn't require McAfee to be as "polished" as it requires black people like him. 

"I love Pat McAfee, love him to death. I love his swag. I love the fact that he’s an honest brother. He don’t give a shit," Smith said. 

"That works for me. Now, is he as polished politically as me? Nope, because he has no desire to be number one. And number two, if we’re being honest, he’s white, and I’m black; he doesn’t have to be."

What examples did Smith provide to support the claim that ESPN holds black people to a harsher standard? He didn't provide any. 

That's unfortunate. We would've liked to see a list of examples validating his claim. Because we can't find any examples of ESPN showing less tolerance for black employees who are reckless with their commentary.

Stephen A. should know that. His black colleague, Mark Jones, called him a "coon" on Twitter without any repercussions.

J.A. Adande, another black colleague of Smith's, argued that red-state voting laws – such as requiring voter identification -- are as harmful to people of color as the human rights violations China commits against Muslim Uyghurs, as in genocide. 

Adande did not face consequences for his barbaric comparison, a comparison that spread a message of propaganda for the Chinese Communist Party. 

Nor did Kendrick Perkins when he unjustly accused NBA MVP voters of racism.

Nor did Elle Duncan when she violated ESPN's "ban on politics" policy by campaigning against the so-called Don't Say Gay bill on-air. 

Nor did Malika Andrews when she protested state abortion rights during the NBA Draft.

In fact, we can only find one example in which ESPN has punished a black pundit for their commentary in recent years: Sage Steele, who was the only openly conservative host on the network. 

See, the majority of decision-makers at ESPN are white. White executives are less likely to punish a black host, knowing how the perception of such could harm their last image.

Multiple on-air talents inside ESPN tell OutKick they believe the only high-ranking executive who does not apply different standards to black and white employees is Head of Event & Studio Production Dave Roberts, the sole black decision maker at the network.

I recently spoke to SiriusXM Patriot host Stacy Washington about how the most blatant examples of anti-white racism in corporate America are at the behest of frightened, shallow white executives. 

At ESPN, that statement checks out.

So while saying ESPN forces black hosts to be more "polished" than white hosts is an effective talking point, it's not accurate. It's dishonest.

But here's where Smith is slick: he references McAfee.

Pat McAfee has a longer leash than most ESPN employees. We don't dispute that. But it's not because he's white. 

McAfee was able to smear executive Norby Williamson on-air because he's a star. ESPN pays McAfee $17 million a year to help usher in a new era of media that appeals to a younger demographic. 

Pat McAfee is a beneficiary of stardom, a form of privilege one can find within any network on television. And guess what? Stephen A. Smith is a beneficiary of the same phenomenon.

ESPN allowed Smith to create a separate production company and podcast outside the company. Smith has the green light to appear on cable news; other ESPN hosts do not. 

Stephen A. can talk about sex and criticize his own company on YouTube without a word from Disney. 

He has earned it. And so has Pat McAfee.

The media is full of privileges: star privilege, attractive woman privilege, DEI privilege, race-card privilege, athlete privilege and agent privilege. 

White privilege? 

Not so much. At least not anymore.