Stephen A. Smith has publicly apologized to Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert after admitting that his media platform shared false information about the former couple's divorce settlement.
The ESPN personality acknowledged that claims about Taylor receiving millions in cash and property while Shumpert was left nearly broke were inaccurate.
Smith also admitted that quotes attributed to the former NBA player were fabricated, taking responsibility for failing to verify the information before discussing it publicly.
Stephen A. Smith Retracts Claims About Teyana Taylor’s $35 Million Divorce Settlement
The controversy began during an October episode of The Culture Table, a podcast produced by Smith's Straight Shooter Media.
During the discussion, Smith claimed that Taylor had received $25 million in cash, along with another $10 million in real estate and luxury assets, following her divorce from Shumpert.
He also alleged that Shumpert had been left with approximately $2 million and was effectively homeless after the settlement.
The claims quickly attracted attention, adding to the public conversation surrounding the former couple's divorce.
However, Smith has now confirmed that the figures were false.
"Those statements were inaccurate, and I want to sincerely apologize to both Iman Shumpert and Teyana Taylor," he said in his correction.
Teyana Taylor Personally Addresses False Divorce Rumors With Stephen A. Smith
According to Smith, he spoke directly with Taylor after the podcast episode circulated.
During their conversation, Taylor reportedly informed him that the financial details being shared about her divorce were fabricated.
Smith subsequently acknowledged that his team had relied on unverified social media posts and media reports rather than independently confirming the information.
He also corrected statements that had been presented as direct quotes from Shumpert.
"The quotes attributed to him, however, were not his statements at all, and the financial figures presented were inaccurate," Smith explained.
His clarification confirmed that neither the alleged settlement amounts nor the supposed remarks from Shumpert should have been presented as facts.
Stephen A. Smith Takes Responsibility For Reporting Error
Beyond retracting the claims, Smith acknowledged that the incident reflected a failure in his company's editorial process.
He emphasized that his platform has a responsibility to verify information before sharing it with audiences, particularly when discussing sensitive personal and financial matters.
Smith accepted responsibility for the mistake and expressed regret over the inaccurate reporting.
He also said he had reached out to Taylor and Shumpert to apologize directly.
The correction comes as Smith continues expanding his media presence beyond ESPN through his own podcast and production ventures.
Teyana Taylor And Iman Shumpert’s Divorce Remains In The Spotlight
Taylor and Shumpert married in 2016 and share two daughters.
Their separation became public after Taylor announced that they were no longer together, with subsequent developments in their divorce attracting considerable media attention.
The latest controversy brought renewed scrutiny to their financial arrangements, despite the figures circulating online being unverified.
As of the original report, neither Taylor nor Shumpert had issued a formal public response to Smith's apology.