Stephen A. Smith has issued a public apology for spreading inaccurate information about the divorce judgment involving Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert.

On Saturday (Oct. 10), Smith uploaded a video on his YouTube channel admitting fault for statements made during his Culture Table segment on whether men can trust women with their finances.

In the now-deleted episode, the ESPN pundit falsely reported that Taylor, whose divorce from Shumpert was finalized in 2024, received $25 million, $10 million in properties, luxury cars, and other assets, while Iman Shumpert, walked away with approximately $2 million and was left without a home.

“In the interest of fairness, accuracy, and decency, I believe it’s important to address what happened,” Smith said.

“Those statements were inaccurate, and I want to sincerely apologize to both Iman Shumpert and Teyana Taylor. The information, just to be clear, was based on quotes and claims that are heavily circulating in media reports and on social media that were attributed to Iman Shumpert.”

Admitting that the statements attributed to Shumpert were wholly fabricated, Smith revealed that he personally spoke with Taylor and Shumpert, voicing his respect for both stars in their respective fields and as humans. He also took accountability for not properly verifying the report.

“Straight Shooter Media and I as the CEO have a responsibility to ensure that information presented is properly sourced. We didn’t meet that standard here. Plain and simple,” stated Smith. “I have personally apologized to both Iman and Teyana. Iman is someone I’ve known for years through my coverage of the NBA and I’ve got tremendous respect for him as a former player, as a person, and obviously as a basketball analyst.”

He continued, adding, “I also have great respect for Teyana, for her talent, as a mother, and for the career she’s built for herself. Award-winning career she’s built for herself. Not to mention, she has always, always been incredibly kind to me personally. I also regret that the segment may have left viewers with the impression that Iman had publicly disparaged the mother of his children.”

The 58-year-old expressed his intent to use the supposed financial details of Taylor and Shumpert’s divorce as the basis of a broader conversation regarding marriage and finances in the current legal and financial climate. “It was not intended to ever focus on Iman and Teyana’s personal circumstances, he insisted.

He reiterated his own misjudgment in commenting on a report without properly verifying the validity of the source, deeming the misstep a learning lesson for himself and others.

“What circulates online is not necessarily true as we all know. And a claim does not become a fact simply because it has been repeated or attributed to a public figure. I personally take pride in delivering product in the highest quality and that includes understanding that reports or statements made multiple times does not make it true.”

This is not the first time that the financial terms of Shumpert and Taylor’s divorce have garnered headlines. In 2025, Taylor accused Shumpert, who she married in 2016, of leaking sealed court records related to the divorce. However, Shumpert’s lawyer, Stephen C. Steele, denied any wrongdoing on the ESPN analyst and NBA champion’s part.

“My client, Mr. Iman Shumpert, has never whatsoever leaked any allegations or claims stated in any of the pleadings,” Steele said at the time. Taylor was later found in willful contempt for violating their divorce terms and ordered to pay $70,000 to cover Shumpert’s legal fees.