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Stephen A. Smith is not mincing words when it comes to his take on the Karmelo Anthony verdict.
On a recent episode of his Straight Shooter podcast, the commentator said, “Karmelo Anthony murdered Austin Metcalf. There is no other way to slice it.”
Anthony was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years behind bars after he stabbed and killed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025.
CONVICTED KILLER KARMELO ANTHONY SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS AFTER YEARLONG LEGAL BATTLE: TIMELINE
Stephen A. Smith (C) attends a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena on March 6, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Smith also challenged the idea coming from Anthony’s legal team that he was “acting in self-defense” when he stabbed and killed Metcalf.
The deadly altercation on that fateful April day started when Anthony entered another team’s tent at a high school track meet. Metcalf and his twin brother, Hunter, approached Anthony, who was sitting under their team’s tent. The brothers asked him to leave as it was not his team’s tent.
Karmelo Anthony was convicted of murdering Austin Metcalf at a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas. (KDFW)
The ESPN commentator also said, “How does that justify Karmelo Anthony pulling out a knife?”
Smith also mentioned in his podcast that he was “not happy” with the makeup of the jury for the Anthony case.
“I’m not happy with the sentencing because I’m not happy with the jury — 18 jurors, about six minorities, none of whom happen to be Black? I don’t believe that’s being judged by a ‘jury of your peers’,” he said.
A court sketch shows Karmelo Anthony during his trial in Collin County, Texas, where he was convicted of murder in the 2025 stabbing death of Austin Metcalf on June 9, 2026. (Pat Lopez)
The jury for the trial was comprised of 12 jurors with six alternates, totaling 18.
Karmelo Anthony stands in a courtroom during his trial in Collin County, Texas, on June 9, 2026, shortly before jurors were sent to deliberate. (Pat Lopez/Unknown)
However, throughout the podcast, Smith still maintained his stance on the case that has brought about controversial divide and racial undertones.
“You know what really hits home for me?” he paused.
ESPN commentator and executive producer Stephen A. Smith is on set in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 7, 2025. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
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He went on to say, “I think it would hit home for any parent who sends their child to high school — is fully aware that they’re competing in track, and they get a call or a knock at the door, and they’re told that their child is never, ever coming home again.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Smith for comment.