ESPN Personality Stephen A. Smith had a back and forth with Dan Le Batard last week while on Le Batard’s «South Beach Sessions» podcast.

When talking about Fox Sports personality Skip Bayless, Smith’s former co-host on ESPN, Le Batard said he hated «what you two have done for sports television.»

Television personality Stephen A. Smith is seen leaving Fox 29’s «Good Day» at FOX 29 Studios after promoting his book «Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes» on January 19, 2023, in Philadelphia. (Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)

Le Batard said he was referring to all the «copycats» who have gone after Smith and Bayless who don’t have the «journalistic credentials.»

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Smith, who has perfected the debate-style sports show, responded, pointing to his long career as a journalist and saying Le Batard shouldn’t be someone to talk about.

«You can say that all you want,» Smith replied. «I’d say, ‘Who the hell are you to sit there and say me and him?’ «And you? Where the hell were you? Living under a rock? Teaching at the University of Miami? You were a part of that, too. You’re not innocent.»

Television personality Stephen A. Smith speaks in the radio line before Super Bowl LVII at the Phoenix Convention Center on February 9, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Television personality Stephen A. Smith speaks in the radio line before Super Bowl LVII at the Phoenix Convention Center on February 9, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

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«Those people who don’t have journalism experience, who don’t exercise journalistic ethics and beyond, how are we responsible for that when our expertise is based on that? Skip Bayless was a journalist for decades. I was a journalist for decades.» «We’re on television and that ethic applies. The fact is that when I take a position, it’s the same kind of position I would take writing a column. The difference is that instead of writing 800 words and being limited to that space, I can talk for a few minutes on each topic.

On Monday, Smith continued the conversation on his «Know Mercy» podcast while making sure to point out that he was not upset with Le Batard, who remains a friend.

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Television personality Stephen A. Smith speaks in the radio line before Super Bowl LVII at the Phoenix Convention Center on February 9, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Television personality Stephen A. Smith speaks in the radio line before Super Bowl LVII at the Phoenix Convention Center on February 9, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

«It amazes me how people talk like I’ve had a negative impact on an industry they benefit from,» Smith said. «Dan Le Batard wrote for the Miami Herald for 26 years, from 1990 to 2016. Ask Dan Le Batard how much money he made writing for the Miami Herald compared to how much money he made at ESPN. How much money he made doing ‘Highly questionable’ ‘.’ How much money he made doing the ‘Dan Le Batard Show’. How much money he made doing ‘South Street Sessions.'»

Smith has become the leading personality on ESPN as host of «First Take,» which airs weekday mornings.

Prior to his days as a television host, Smith spent many years as a journalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer and the New York Daily News.