The Confrontation: Alexis Ohanian Calls Out Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take
On October 9, 2025, Reddit co-founder and Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian appeared as a guest on ESPN’s First Take, where he directly confronted host Stephen A. Smith over controversial comments Smith made about Williams’ Super Bowl halftime cameo earlier this year. The exchange, which went viral on social media, left Smith visibly uncomfortable and sparked widespread praise for Ohanian’s poised clapback.
Background: Smith’s Super Bowl Comments
During the Super Bowl LIX halftime show in February 2025, Serena Williams made a surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s performance, dancing alongside the rapper in a moment many interpreted as playful shade toward Drake (Williams’ rumored ex). Smith, on First Take, weighed in from a hypothetical husband’s perspective: “If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his ass. Because clearly, you don’t belong with me… Bye. Bye.” The remark drew backlash for implying Williams’ actions could justify ending her marriage to Ohanian, reducing a celebrated athlete’s fun moment to outdated relationship drama.
The First Take Showdown
Ohanian, promoting his new venture Athlos NYC, didn’t hold back. Referencing Smith’s earlier take, he quipped: “Do you remember what Stephen A. Smith said about Williams at the Super Bowl?” As Smith shifted awkwardly, Ohanian pressed: “Wait—you haven’t been married before, right?” The studio erupted in laughter, with co-hosts Molly Qerim and Shannon Sharpe grinning. Ohanian followed up: “I generally try to stay in my lane in the advice department,” adding, “I build. So I try to stay in my lane.” Smith attempted to defend himself, stammering, “Oh, I’m qualified… We can get it out,” but the moment highlighted the irony of an unmarried Smith dispensing marriage “wisdom.”
The clip spread rapidly on X (formerly Twitter), with users hailing Ohanian’s response as “savage” and “speechless-making.” One post noted: “Never seen Stephen A. Smith so scared,” while another called it a “real clapback.”
Reactions and Aftermath
Social media lit up with support for Ohanian and Williams. Fans praised him for defending his wife without escalating into hostility, with comments like “Serena’s husband didn’t just tweet—he pulled up, leaving Stephen A. Smith visibly rattled.” Smith later clarified on X that his original comments were “joking around” and not meant to disrespect Williams, emphasizing: “I didn’t utter a single disrespectful word about Serena.”
This isn’t the first time Smith has drawn heat over Williams—back in 2018, he critiqued her emotional post-match breakdown. The incident underscores ongoing debates about media commentary on women’s personal lives in sports. As of October 12, 2025, no further public response from Williams herself has surfaced, but the couple’s united front remains a fan favorite.