Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless reunite over holiday dinner as long-standing feud shows signs of easing

Sports media figures Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless appear to have reconciled after years of public tension, according to reporting from Isabel Baldwin. The former First Take co-hosts were photographed dining together over Thanksgiving weekend, suggesting a thaw in a relationship that had been notably strained since Bayless left ESPN in 2016 to launch Undisputed on FS1.

A fan photo circulating on social media showed Smith and Bayless seated in a booth at Nate ’n Al’s in Beverly Hills, accompanied by Bayless’s wife, Ernestine. In the image, Smith and Ernestine flash peace signs while Bayless smiles toward the camera, signaling a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Smith and Bayless worked together from 2012 to 2016, during which time their on-air debates helped redefine the modern sports debate format. However, their professional split led to years of tension. In 2022, Smith suggested on the Old Man and the Three podcast that he had been instrumental in elevating First Take’s ratings, a remark widely interpreted as a slight at Bayless. Bayless later countered on his own show, disputing Smith’s characterization and arguing that First Take had already achieved major success by the time Smith joined.

The rift deepened when Smith said in late 2024 that he no longer had a relationship with Bayless, claiming he had attempted to reach out multiple times but received no response. Smith said this lack of communication prevented them from “vibing” and contributed to their distance.

Despite the tension, the two reunited professionally earlier this year when Smith appeared as the inaugural guest on The Skip Bayless Show, marking their first on-air exchange in nearly a decade. Bayless later admitted he felt initial hesitation about hosting Smith, but their previously familiar chemistry returned quickly.

Their recent holiday dinner suggests that the renewed rapport has carried into their off-air relationship as well. While neither has publicly commented on the meeting, the sighting indicates that one of sports media’s most notable partnerships may finally be moving past its long-running feud.