ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith said he is looking for a “domesticated” woman who cooks fresh meals, keeps a clean home and maintains her own career if she wants a relationship with him.
Smith, 58, made the remarks Friday on the “Funky Friday” podcast while discussing traditional gender roles in relationships. He described his expectations bluntly, saying he provides and protects while his partner handles domestic duties — but not at the expense of her working.
“I want you to cook,” Smith said. “If I got to cook myself why do I need you. I come back from work I better not smell pine sol. If any of my sister knows I’m coming I’m smelling food.”
He added that he does not want a partner who stays home all day. “She’ll work I need you to be preoccupied,” Smith said, according to a clip that spread rapidly on social media.
Smith pushed back against what he called an “assault on masculinity,” insisting his views do not mean a woman should forgo a career. “I didn’t say I want you with an apron behind the stove and not working,” he said in related remarks. “I didn’t say that I didn’t want you to have a career. I didn’t say that I didn’t want you to make your money.”
Stephen A. Smith says his woman must be domesticated and that this assault on masculinity must be stopped, and she must still work because he doesn’t want her home all day thinking about what he’s doing
“I want you to cook. If I got to cook myself why do I need you. I come back… pic.twitter.com/XdtFUbRAnG
— stan🎥 (@wyd_stan) May 1, 2026
He recounted ending a past relationship with a woman who refused to cook, saying it was a deal-breaker.
The comments ignited immediate debate online. Supporters praised Smith for defending traditional roles in which men provide financially and women contribute domestically. Critics, including some women, pointed to his unmarried status and two daughters from previous relationships, accusing him of hypocrisy while questioning whether he himself meets the provider standard he describes.
Smith, known for his outspoken style on “First Take” and “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” has frequently weighed in on culture and gender issues beyond sports. He has not commented publicly on the latest backlash as of Saturday morning.
The podcast clip has been viewed millions of times across Instagram, X and TikTok, with hashtags such as #StephenASmith trending.
