Steve Stoute has never been afraid to call it as he sees it, and during a recent appearance on Boardroom Talks, the marketing mogul delivered a pointed commentary on the complicated relationship between fame and talent, using none other than Stephen A. Smith as his prime example.
“Fame is a dangerous drug,” Stoute sets the stage for a conversation at the heart of modern celebrity culture. “I think Stephen A. Smith, the fact that he’s actually a great journalist, is homogenized by the stuff that he’s doing for fame.”
It’s an interesting statement, especially considering Smith’s status as one of the most recognizable voices in sports media. But Stoute’s critique isn’t about Smith’s success; it’s about what that success has cost.
According to Stoute, fame and talent used to have a symbiotic relationship. Fame amplified talent. But somewhere along the way, the script flipped. “Fame has decided it doesn’t need talent anymore,” he explained. “Fame has actually outpaced talent, and the worst part of that is that talent has accepted that truth.”
The result? Talented people compromising their craft for clicks and viral moments. “If you decide I’m gonna have a hot take that’s ridiculous just because I know it’s gonna get clicks, what are you doing to your brand?” Stoute asked. “What do you think that does to you?”
When pressed on whether talented individuals are compromising their brands or simply accepting a new reality, Stoute said it’s both.
He made it clear he has “a great deal of respect” for Smith and acknowledges that Smith is “clearly cashing out.” But in Stoute’s view, Smith’s greatness as a journalist has been diluted by his pursuit of fame. “His journalism, the thing that he’s great at, I believe is homogenized by the stuff that he’s doing for fame.”
The conversation took a deeper turn when Stoute addressed the long-term implications. “It has a real impact on what your legacy may be,” he said. “You couldn’t get somebody to talk about him right now today without talking about all the other stuff. And that does sustain.”
He’s not wrong. History is littered with actors, musicians, and public figures who were among the greatest in their fields, but whose legacies are now inseparable from controversy or stunts designed to stay relevant.
