{"id":403390,"date":"2025-11-25T10:31:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T10:31:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/403390\/"},"modified":"2025-11-25T10:31:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T10:31:11","slug":"dave-portnoy-accepts-stephen-a-smiths-apology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/403390\/","title":{"rendered":"Dave Portnoy accepts Stephen A. Smith\u2019s apology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stephen A. Smith might not want to concede to anyone\u2019s demands, but he apologized to Drake Maye, and that\u2019s good enough for Dave Portnoy.<\/p>\n

Drake Maye said he didn\u2019t know what show Cam Newton was on, and Stephen A. Smith didn\u2019t like that. Stephen A. Smith called Drake Maye a liar, and Dave Portnoy didn\u2019t like that. Dave Portnoy demanded an apology, and Stephen A. Smith didn\u2019t like<\/a> that. But he did apologize<\/a>. And for that, Portnoy is thankful.<\/p>\n

During Monday\u2019s Wake Up Barstool on FS1, the show did a pre-Thanksgiving \u2018what are you thankful for\u2019 segment, and Portnoy was thankful for Smith\u2019s apology.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThank you, Stephen A, for apologizing\u2026 Apology accepted, I\u2019m glad we can put this nastiness behind us.\u201d \u2013 @stoolpresidente<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/v1jKb3g4PV<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/swNX0nGrV5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Wake Up Barstool (@wakeupbarstool) November 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWhen Drake Maye was called a liar by Stephen A. Smith because he said he didn\u2019t know Cam Newton was on that other network and on First Take, I demanded an apology from Stephen A,\u201d Portnoy explained. \u201cI said, \u2018You don\u2019t call my quarterback a liar. You don\u2019t do that.\u2019 Stephen A. responded by saying, \u2018Who is Dave Portnoy to demand an apology from me. I ain\u2019t getting an apology demand for me from nobody, especially Dave Portnoy.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd in the next breath, what did he do? He apologized. So, thank you, Stephen A. for apologizing. I don\u2019t care whether you say I can\u2019t demand it, the main thing is you did it\u2026apology accepted, I\u2019m glad we can put this nastiness behind us. I respect Stephen A. And I\u2019m glad he adhered and bent the knee and gave the apology. So, I am thankful that war is over.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Newton labeled the New England Patriots \u201cfool\u2019s gold\u201d two weeks ago, no one could have predicted the twists and turns this story would eventually take. But no one expected Smith to accuse Maye of lying about the fact that he didn\u2019t realize Newton was a part-time contributor on First Take.<\/p>\n

To be clear, Smith never apologized\u00a0 directly to Portnoy, or \u201cPortnoe\u201d as he repeatedly referred to the Barstool Sports founder last week, for accusing his favorite quarterback of being a liar. But he did give a sort of apology to Maye by claiming, \u201cI was being facetious; I wasn\u2019t being serious about that point. So, if people take it that way, sure, I can apologize for that, it\u2019s no big deal. But I wasn\u2019t being serious.\u201d And for Smith, that was a big concession.<\/p>\n

Maybe it was Portnoy\u2019s demand. Or maybe it was the fact that even Smith realized it was ridiculous to assume there\u2019s no way a 23-year-old NFL quarterback could have better things to do than spend their mornings watching First Take.<\/p>\n

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