Stephen A. Smith isn’t one to hold his tongue, and this time, he’s directing his criticism at Megyn Kelly over her fiery reaction to a false report claiming the Philadelphia Eagles declined a White House invitation after winning Super Bowl 2025.
During Tuesday’s episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, the ESPN personality questioned Kelly’s over-the-top response to the now-debunked report.
“Was that necessary, though?” Smith asked, referring to Kelly’s outrage on social media.
Kelly’s Explosive Reaction to False Report
Kelly’s outrage stemmed from a Feb. 6 report by The U.S. Sun, which falsely alleged that an unnamed Eagles player and a team executive would refuse to visit the White House if invited. The report dropped three days before the Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl 2025.
The political commentator was quick to react, posting an expletive-laden response on X (formerly Twitter).
“GO F YOURSELVES,” Kelly wrote in response to the claim, directing her anger at the Eagles organization.
However, just a few days later, the White House denied the report, confirming that the Eagles had not rejected any invitation—because no invitation had been extended yet.
Kelly acknowledged the White House’s statement, but Smith still felt her initial reaction was over the top and unnecessary.
RELATED: Harrison Butker Meets With Trump at White House After Chiefs’ Loss
Stephen A. Defends the Eagles: ‘They Were Justified in 2018’
Smith wasn’t just criticizing Kelly’s response—he also pointed out the historical context between the Eagles and the White House, particularly their 2018 Super Bowl team’s decision not to attend under former President Donald Trump.
“Really? They ain’t feeling Trump. So what?” Smith said.
“74 million plus people wasn’t feeling Trump. F them too? Come on, Megyn.”
He then reminded Kelly and viewers that if any team had a valid reason to turn down a White House visit, it would be the Eagles.
Back in 2018, the Super Bowl-winning Eagles were set to visit the White House, but after reports surfaced that many players planned to skip the event, Trump preemptively rescinded the invitation. He claimed the players were protesting his stance on the national anthem, which had been a divisive issue in the NFL.
At the time, Trump released a statement saying:
“They disagree with their president because he insists that they proudly stand for the national anthem, hand on heart.”
Smith used this moment as a prime example of why the Eagles’ history with White House visits is more complicated than Kelly made it seem.
“You don’t need to do that. It’s just not necessary,” Smith told Kelly.
Smith: ‘I’m a Fan of Kelly, But I Disagree’
Despite his criticism, Smith made it clear that he respects Kelly and has even appeared on her Sirius XM show in the past. However, he strongly disagreed with how she handled this situation.
“I don’t appreciate what [LeBron James] said,” Smith added.
“This is fresh off of an All-Star Weekend that he elected not to participate in… He ruined the Slam Dunk Contest because he’s the first superstar that didn’t do it.”
Kelly has long been known for her outspoken political views, and her quick reaction to the false report only added fuel to an already politically charged sports debate.
Trump Confirms the Eagles Will Be Invited to the White House
Just as the controversy was reaching its peak, Trump—who is running for president in 2024—confirmed that the Eagles will, in fact, be invited to the White House for their Super Bowl win.
“They will be. We haven’t yet, but we will be,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday.
“I thought it was a great performance by them. Absolutely, they’ll be extended that invitation… We’ll do that right away… They deserve to be down here, and we hope to see them.”
Meanwhile, a team source told CNN that the Eagles would be ‘honored’ to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
With the drama now put to rest, Smith’s main argument remains: The Eagles were unfairly targeted, and Kelly’s reaction was completely unnecessary—especially before all the facts were in.
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