It’s Antonio Brown vs ESPN!

After leaving the NFL, Brown has built an online audience for his dark humor. This includes throwing jabs at athletes like Tom Brady and even WNBA star Caitlin Clark. However, in recent times, Brown has focused his attacks on ESPN’s “First Take” host Shannon Sharpe.

After a video of Sharpe’s “walk” with an orange cross bag went viral, Brown relentlessly mocked him, using memes and comments with subtle suggestions about his sexuality. He often captioned the posts with words like “gay” and “rainbow” showing his homophobic side publicly. But now, after throwing shades constantly, Brown’s new target appears to be Sharpe’s co-host, Stephen A. Smith.

NFL commentator Stephen A. Smith, known for his passionate takes, recently entered the American Athletic Conference (AAC) media event. A clip online highlighted his “swag walk” and even compared it to the Black Panther’s movements after gaining his powers. How could the former wide receiver resist taking a jab soon? He reposted the clip with a brutal jab stating, “Somebody tell this n***a he not playing #CTESPN”

Interestingly, years ago, while still playing for the Buccaneers, Smith was one of AB’s most vocal critics. He often pointed out both the flaws and strengths of the former WR. However, times have changed, and now Smith and AB sail on the same boat. Who knows, with his new podcast venture, AB might even become Smith’s new competitor.

Antonio Brown takes aim at media giant ESPN

Since retiring from the NFL, Antonio Brown has made a habit of taking jabs at ESPN and its hosts. This isn’t just recent with Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith. Years ago, when ESPN laid off 20 popular employees like Keyshawn Johnson, Brown mocked the network with a sarcastic “excited to announce my new partnership” with ESPN post.

This online jab escalated further with the launch of his own “CTESPN Network.” This is seen as an ironic amalgamation of CTE, a brain condition linked to repeated head injuries in athletes, with the sports media giant ESPN. Soon Brown’s fans became eager for his “honest and brutal” takes on the NFL through his “CTESPN Podcast.” In fact, the debut episode featuring Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill was quite well-received. While Brown hints at a new episode on the horizon, he now takes a risky move by targeting established names in the hosting field.

But controversy is practically Brown’s middle name. Thus, he will not back off from his trolls soon. His X platform has now become a place where no one, not even established ESPN personalities, is immune to his commentary.