Ex-'Scream' star fired for anti-Israel rant agrees that co-stars who returned to the new film are 'scabby'

A former "Scream" star who was fired after speaking out against Israel is now blasting her ex-castmates for returning to the horror franchise, agreeing they are "scabby" for moving forward without her.

"One hundred percent [they were scabby]. I think they all are," the anti-Israel actress Melissa Barrera told Variety.

"And they have to live with that," she added, in comments that could be directed at cast members Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown. They starred with Barrera in the fifth and sixth "Scream" movies. Gooding and Savoy Brown, unlike Barrera, returned for part seven. 

"The only way they were able to make that movie after what happened was to nostalgia-bait as much as possible," Barrera said.

MATTHEW LILLARD DROPS F-BOMBS ON ICE AT LOS ANGELES 'SCREAM' SCREENING EVENT WHILE PROMOTING BALLOT MEASURE

Variety writer Marlow Stern asked, "You were fired from ‘Scream 7.’ Jenna Ortega didn’t return. The director dropped out. But then Spyglass brought back cast members from the prior ‘Scream’ films. Did that seem scabby to you? Did it feel like those were people basically crossing the picket line?"

This prompted Barrera to reply, "Oh, one hundred percent." 

Representatives for Savoy Brown and Gooding did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Barrera was dropped from the horror franchise in late 2023 following backlash over her social media posts about the Israel–Hamas war, including statements in which she accused Israel of genocide amid its response to the Oct. 7 attacks.

One of Barrera's multiple posts on the war read, "Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp. Cornering everyone together, with no where to go, no electricity no water … People have [learned] nothing from our histories. And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING."

At the time of her firing, Spyglass Media Group told Variety that Barrera’s social media posts crossed a line, stating it has "zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech."

JAMIE KENNEDY DEFENDS ANTI-ISRAEL ACTRESS FROM CANCELLATION, SAYS STARRING IN PRO-LIFE FILM CHANGED HIM

Barrera fired back shortly after, rebuking the suggestion that her actions constituted antisemitism or the "incitement of hate."

"I believe a group of people are not their leadership and that no governing body should be above criticism. I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence and for peaceful co-existence," she told the outlet at the time.

"I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom. Silence is not an option for me."

HOLLYWOOD STARS LIKE MAYIM BIALIK, DEBRA MESSING AMONG 1,200 BLASTING ISRAELI FILM BOYCOTT AS 'ERASURE OF ART'

Barrera’s firing was followed by further franchise shakeups, with actress Jenna Ortega declining to return and director Christopher Landon eventually stepping away from the film.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Ortega's exit was initially chalked up to scheduling conflicts, but the actress later denied those reports, stating, "The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart. If ‘Scream VII’ wasn’t going to be with that team of directors and those people I fell in love with, then it didn’t seem like the right move for me in my career at the time."

When asked if she received messages of support from others after her firing, Barrera shook her head and said, "That's not the reality of things..."

"I got some messages of support from people in the industry, but what I found is that private messages with no action mean nothing," she added.

Variety's recent coverage explored how Barrera is working to rebuild her career in the wake of the controversy, with the actress continuing to take on new projects while reflecting on the shakeup.

Fox News' Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/0OgG7ax

Kevin Durant's media company says Caitlin Clark is the third most marketable WNBA player

Caitlin Clark has been a lightning rod since she entered the WNBA. She’s broken the minds of opponents and media members for years now. 

Fellow WNBA players like DiJonai Carrington have claimed her fans are racist. ESPN’s Monica McNutt has claimed her white skin is why fans are flocking to fill NBA arenas to watch her play. ESPN shockingly ranked Caitlin Clark the sixth-best rookie early in her rookie season. Even an anonymous media member decided to ruin Clark’s bid for a unanimous rookie of the year award, giving Angel Reese her solo first-place vote. Clark is no stranger to disrespect in rankings, awards, play and coverage over the years.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

On Friday, this was no different. Kevin Durant’s sports media and entertainment company, Boardroom, came out with their ranking of "The Most Marketable WNBA Players Entering This Season." Caitlin Clark should be first, right? Nope. She’s third behind reigning MVP A’ja Wilson and Dallas Wings' Paige Bueckers. Angel Reese is fourth on the list.

If we're being honest, Caitlin Clark is EASILY the most marketable WNBA player. That’s a given by any metric. So either Boardroom is being contrarian for clicks, or they're trolling us. According to Covers’ new "WNBA Marketability Index 2026" from a few days ago, Clark tops the league with a score of 83 out of 100, while Reese came in second at 80. How can Boardroom be so drastically different unless there is some sort of agenda here?

CAITLIN CLARK TOPS WNBA MARKETABILITY RANKINGS WITH ANGEL REESE CLOSE BEHIND IN NEW STUDY

I mean, come on. Every single Indiana Fever game is on national TV this season. All 44. Why? Caitlin Clark. A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, and Paige Beuckers aren’t drawing close to that kind of interest from sports fans. The WNBA and it’s media partners know Clark’s marketability is off the charts.

The main reason the WNBA is talked about at all nowadays, and has any chance at profitability, is Caitlin Clark. She’s the golden ticket. She’s the reason the WNBA Players Association was able to force the league to pay them more money. She’s the reason teams started flying private two seasons ago. She forces teams to move to NBA arenas and sells them out. 

A’ja Wilson and Angel Reese have both come out with signature shoes. Neither of them had more buzz than Caitlin Clark’s Nike Kobe crossover. It took only about a minute for her Kobe 5 Protro Rookie of the Year shoes to sell out. Most were going for well over $350 on the secondary market, with one pair even costing $642.

CAITLIN CLARK'S INDIANA FEVER SOLD 90 TIMES MORE TICKETS ON STUBHUB IN HER ROOKIE SEASON THAN IN 2023

Caitlin Clark’s sports cards sell for exponentially more too. For example, Caitlin Clark’s 1 of 1 rookie Flawless WNBA logowoman card sold for a whopping $660,000, while Angel Reese’s highest sports card sale, her 1 of 1 rookie Immaculate WNBA logowoman, sold for less than 5% of Clark’s ($30,000).

Caitlin Clark is the Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan of the WNBA. She’s a transcendent star, who will go down as potentially the most impactful and influential female sports star in American sports. She’s that popular. She moves the needle that much.

If we wanted to have a conversation about who is a better player between Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark, we can have that conversation. Both are rookie of the year award winners. Both had impressive college careers, though Bueckers' was derailed by injury. Paige Bueckers may be on countless commercials ranging from Gatorade to Carmax, but acting as if she is more marketable than Clark, is laughable.

I don’t know what metrics Boardroom was pulling from as they compiled this list, but it's getting lambasted online, rightfully so. This is par for the course for the media, though. Reese was put on the cover of the NBA 2K26: WNBA Edition over Clark. Reese and Wilson were on the cover of the Wall Street Journal over Clark after she won Rookie of the Year. 

The Indiana Fever and Clark tip off their season at home on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET against the Dallas Wings and their star Paige Bueckers, alongside the No. 1 pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft, Azzi Fudd.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/2XWdHzv

DOJ taunts media after Trump scores win in battleground-state ballot fight

The Department of Justice took aim at reporters it viewed as biased on social media on Wednesday after a federal judge sided with the government in a dispute over 2020 ballots and election materials it seized in Fulton County, Georgia, in January.

"Wrong again, MacFarlane," a DOJ communications account wrote in an X post, targeting a MeidasTouch journalist who had speculated the department’s arguments would fail to persuade the judge.

Judge J.P. Boulee had found in a 68-page order that Fulton County did not prove its rights were violated when the FBI seized more than 600 boxes of election records. Boulee, a Trump appointee, denied county officials’ request that the boxes be returned, handing the Trump administration a win in its broader fight to investigate the 2020 election and prompting DOJ to taunt media skeptics online.

"Sorry for your loss, Anna," the DOJ social media account wrote in a separate post about a Lawfare editor.

FBI AGENTS SEARCH ELECTION HUB IN FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA

Boulee’s decision marked a win for the DOJ in its nationwide effort to investigate past elections in key battlegrounds that also include Arizona and Michigan, as Trump maintains that the 2020 election was tainted by widespread fraud and aggressively pushes for tighter election security measures ahead of the midterms.

The FBI had seized the boxes, which included 2020 ballots, from the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center after obtaining a court-approved search warrant. An underlying affidavit revealed the bureau was probing allegations of ballot irregularities and record-keeping failures in Georgia, a state Trump lost by a razor-thin margin to President Joe Biden that became ground zero for Trump's election fraud claims in the aftermath of 2020.

FBI SUBPOENAS 2020 ARIZONA VOTING DOCS AS FEDERAL PUSH INTO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION WIDENS

Democrats have widely criticized the investigation, including Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., who called it a continuation of a "sore loser's crusade" upon learning of the probe.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners chairman Robb Pitts, who is named in the litigation over the box seizure, previously called the investigation "yet another act of outrageous federal overreach designed to intimidate and to chill participation in elections.... I will always stand up for our elections workers and for the truth."

NAACP ASKS JUDGE TO LIMIT HOW FEDS USE GEORGIA VOTER DATA SEIZED BY FBI

Pitts and other Fulton County officials had argued the box seizures were unlawful and that the government showed "callous disregard" for the county's constitutional rights. But Boulee rejected those claims while still acknowledging that the underlying affidavit was flawed and contained "troubling" statements.

"While the Affidavit was certainly far from perfect, this is not a situation where an officer left out all the facts that might undermine probable cause or where an officer intentionally lied," Boulee wrote, adding that he "cannot say that the Affidavit was so deficient that its shortcomings rise to the 'high[] threshold' of callous disregard."

Boulee relied in his decision on the fact that the investigation was still in an early phase and emphasized that federal authorities had obtained a valid warrant supported by an affidavit. The affidavit outlined allegations related to missing ballot images, inconsistent recount totals and chain-of-custody problems, among other potential issues.

In response to Boulee's order, Pitts said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital that he agreed with the judge's assessment that the affidavit was "defective" and "problematic." 

"But I strongly disagree with the judge’s denial of Fulton County’s request for the FBI to return the election records it wrongly seized on January 28," Pitts said, adding that county officials would "continue, as always, to stand by our election workers and the voters of Fulton County. We intend to vigorously pursue all available legal options."

Fox News Digital reached out to Lawfare and MeidasTouch for comment.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/XJYG4W3

Justin Baldoni's team claps back at Blake Lively declaring 'resounding victory' in settlement

Blake Lively went on offense after settling her lawsuit with "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni, asking a federal judge to award her potentially tens of millions of dollars.

In a new legal filing, obtained by Fox News Digital, Lively's legal team argued that Baldoni's dismissed $400 million defamation case was not only baseless but retaliatory. The 38-year-old actress accused Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and others of filing the countersuit to punish her for speaking out about alleged sexual harassment and misconduct.

Lively demanded a sweeping financial judgment that includes attorneys’ fees, triple damages for alleged harm and punitive damages aimed at penalizing what her attorneys described as an abuse of the legal system. The move marked a dramatic escalation in an already bitter legal battle, shifting the focus to retribution as Lively attempts to hold her opponents financially accountable.

"This settlement is a resounding victory for Blake Lively," representatives for Lively told Fox News Digital. "By agreeing to this settlement, and waiving their right to appeal, Justin Baldoni and every individual defendant now face personal liability for abusing the legal system to silence and intimidate Ms. Lively."

BLAKE LIVELY AND JUSTIN BALDONI REACH SETTLEMENT IN ‘IT ENDS WITH US’ RETALIATION LAWSUIT

"And by admitting that Ms. Lively’s concerns 'deserved to be heard,' the defendants have ended once and for all the fiction that Ms. Lively 'fabricated' claims of sexual harassment and retaliation," the statement continued. "From day one, Blake Lively’s mission was clear: expose and hold accountable those who weaponize smear campaigns and retaliatory lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors. That mission continues."

A spokesperson for Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer parties pushed back sharply on Lively’s claims, framing the outcome of the broader case as a decisive win for their side and downplaying the significance of her latest filing.

"Let’s be clear, this is a win and total victory for the Wayfarer parties," Bryan Freedman told Fox News Digital. "The court had already dismissed 10 of Ms. Lively’s 13 claims, including every sexual harassment claim, every defamation claim, and all claims against the individual defendants. Ms. Lively voluntarily dismissed the rest. In our view, they settled because they knew they were going to lose in court. All that remains is a pending request for fees based on a very narrow issue that has been with the court since September 2025."

JUSTIN BALDONI'S $400M LAWSUIT AGAINST BLAKE LIVELY DISMISSED

Lively and Baldoni announced they had settled their nearly two-year legal battle in a joint statement shared Monday. The "It Ends With Us" stars were set to face off in court on May 18.

Baldoni and Lively first became embroiled in the legal back-and-forth after filming the Colleen Hoover-adapted film, "It Ends With Us." The "Gossip Girl" actress claimed she experienced sexual harassment on set and sued Baldoni in December 2024.

Lively detailed allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and more against Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath in a complaint first filed with the California Civil Rights Department and later in federal court.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

Meanwhile, Baldoni insisted that Lively had "falsely" accused him in an attempt to repair her reputation following the fallout from the movie's press tour in his own $400 million defamation lawsuit. The actor's claims were later thrown out by a judge in June 2025.

After battling in court for the past year and a half, a federal judge allowed Lively's retaliation claims to move forward in the high-profile Hollywood lawsuit highlighting what she claimed was a coordinated effort by powerful insiders to manipulate public opinion and destroy the actress' reputation.

However, Judge Lewis J. Liman tossed the majority of Lively's allegations against Baldoni, including the sexual harassment and defamation accusations. The judge's ruling dramatically narrowed the case to focus only on the actress' retaliation claims and a breach of contract claim weeks before the trial was set to begin.

Lively and Baldoni's notice of settlement, filed Thursday, signaled the two had reached a final resolution — ensuring that the same allegations cannot be brought back before the court again.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/KrpVSJb

'Left-wing extremists,' cartels move into crosshairs in Trump terror shift beyond ISIS

The Trump administration’s new counterterrorism strategy expands the scope of U.S. national security policy to include drug cartels and domestic extremist groups alongside traditional jihadist threats — a shift that could widen how counterterrorism tools are deployed at home and abroad.

A 16-page strategy released to reporters Wednesday identifies three primary sources of terrorist threats: "narcoterrorists and transnational gangs," "legacy Islamist terrorists," and "violent left-wing extremists, including anarchists and anti-fascists" — marking a break from post-9/11 frameworks that centered largely on groups like ISIS and al Qaeda.

The document lays out a three-part approach to combating those threats: identifying terrorist actors and plots before they occur, cutting off funding and recruitment pipelines, and ultimately dismantling established networks — a framework that signals a more expansive use of intelligence, financial and military tools across multiple threat categories.

The strategy broadens the definition of terrorism in ways that could extend national security powers beyond traditional jihadist groups — opening the door to expanded use of military, intelligence and law enforcement tools against cartels and actors inside the United States.

TRUMP REWRITES NATIONAL SECURITY PLAYBOOK AS MASS MIGRATION OVERTAKES TERRORISM AS TOP US THREAT

At the same time, the strategy takes aim at the intelligence community, arguing it has been "mired in old ways of looking at threats" and, at times, "weaponized" for political purposes — language that underscores the administration’s push to reshape how counterterrorism priorities are defined and executed.

The strategy expands the counterterrorism mission to include domestic extremist violence, particularly from what officials describe as left-wing ideological movements — a shift that places greater emphasis on identifying and disrupting networks operating inside the United States.

White House counterterrorism chief Sebastian Gorka said the administration is focused on politically motivated violence domestically and would use "all the tools constitutionally available" to identify and disrupt extremist actors.

TRUMP ADMIN TO HOLD GLOBAL SUMMIT ON COUNTERING ANTIFA, SOURCES CONFIRM

He pointed to recent high-profile attacks, including the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as examples of what he described as a broader rise in extremist violence.

"If you look at the Tyler Robinson, as you mentioned, the murder of the assassin, of Charlie Kirk. If you look at Robert Westman, the murderer of the little children of the Annunciation Catholic School last year, we see an ideology that, ostensibly, began by preaching tolerance, being used by specific actors to wage violence against the most innocent, little children at Catholic schools at churches. This is a threat we will take very seriously."

"Whether you are right wing inspired or left being inspired, the point at which you advocate for violence or use violence yourself, for political purposes, means you are actually undertaking terrorism," Gorka went on.

The strategy calls for mapping and disrupting "violent left-wing extremists" using available law enforcement authorities, a move that could expand how federal agencies apply counterterrorism tools in domestic cases.

The strategy also elevates drug cartels to a central national security threat, embedding them alongside jihadist groups as a core counterterrorism priority — a shift that blurs the line between traditional criminal organizations and designated terrorist actors.

Gorka framed cartel violence as a direct and ongoing threat to the United States, arguing the scale of deaths tied to drug trafficking now rivals wartime losses.

"More Americans were murdered by illicit drugs smuggled across the border by cartels in one year than in 70 years of combat fatalities of U.S. service men and women," he said. "They declared war on us. We are responding."

The strategy builds on actions already underway, including the designation of major cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and a military campaign targeting suspected smuggling operations — steps that expand the range of tools available to confront cartel networks.

Recent operations have targeted suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific as part of what officials describe as an ongoing effort to combat "narcoterrorism," signaling a more sustained operational posture.

"If we know where you are, if you killed Americans, if you're plotting to kill Americans, within 72 hours, we can kill you, we can arrest you or we can kill you," Gorka said.

Beyond domestic and cartel-related threats, the strategy places Iran at the center of the global terrorism landscape, describing the regime as the most significant state-backed threat facing the United States — reinforcing a continued focus on Tehran’s role in supporting proxy networks.

"The greatest threat to the United States emanating from the Middle East comes specifically from Iran," the document states, citing both Tehran’s military capabilities and its backing of groups such as Hezbollah.

Gorka echoed that assessment, arguing many global threats ultimately trace back to Iran. 

"Nine out of ten times, you scratch the surface of that threat, and three nanometers later, you find Iran," he said.

The strategy calls for continued military, intelligence and covert operations against Iran and its network of proxies, signaling those efforts will persist "until the regime in Tehran is no longer a threat to the United States."

The document also emphasizes more aggressive use of military, financial and intelligence tools, alongside increased pressure on allies to take on greater responsibility in combating shared threats, pointing to a wider, more integrated counterterrorism posture going forward.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/sG6q3yp

DOJ sues Denver over ban on ‘assault weapons’

The Justice Department announced Tuesday that it has filed a lawsuit against the city of Denver, Colorado, "alleging that the City unconstitutionally bans certain constitutionally protected semi-automatic rifles."

"These laws unconstitutionally infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms in common use for lawful purposes," according to the Justice Department.

"The Constitution is not a suggestion and the Second Amendment is not a second-class right," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. "Denver's ban on commonly owned semi-automatic rifles directly violates the right to bear arms. This Department of Justice will vigorously defend the liberties of law-abiding citizens nationwide."

The 12-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado names the City and County of Denver, Colorado, and the Denver Police Department as defendants. It said Denver has an ordinance that makes it "a crime to carry, store, keep, manufacture, sell, or otherwise possess a so-called ‘assault weapon,’" but that the ordinance contains "politically charged rhetoric."

LINDSAY GRAHAM URGES US, ISRAEL TO ARM IRANIAN CIVILIANS IN ‘SECOND AMENDMENT SOLUTION’ TO TOPPLE REGIME

"The term ‘assault weapon' is not a technical term used in the firearms industry. Rather, as Justice Thomas has aptly noted, ’assault weapon' is a rhetorically charged political term developed by anti-gun publicists," the complaint reads. "In reality, the firearms the City calls ‘assault weapons’ include ordinary semiautomatic rifles possessed by millions of law-abiding Americans. Indeed, Americans own literally tens of millions of AR-15 style rifles, the paradigmatic ‘assault weapon’ covered by the Ordinance. As the Supreme Court has recently recognized, the AR-15 is the most popular rifle in America."

"When the City banned AR-15 style rifles with standard capacity magazines, it banned an arm in common use for  lawful purposes by law-abiding citizens," the complaint added. "Therefore, the Ordinance violates the Second Amendment, and the United States brings this action to vindicate the rights of Denver citizens whose rights have been — and are continuing to be — violated by Defendants."

The complaint calls for declaratory and injunctive relief. The Denver Police Department told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that it would defer to the Denver mayor's office for comment. The mayor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

SPANBERGER SIGNS GUN BILLS, MAKES A PROPOSED GUN BAN EVEN HARSHER

The office of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston released a statement Monday saying he was joined "by public safety and civic leaders in rejecting a demand from the U.S. Department of Justice to repeal the city's longstanding ban on assault weapons."

"The demand, which suggested a lawsuit would be filed if Denver does not comply, came last week in a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice," the Democrat's office said. 

"Our first job is to keep Denverites safe, and we will not be intimidated out of doing it," Johnston said in a statement. "Denver's law has stood for 37 years because it works, it saves lives, and it reflects the values of our community. No demand or lawsuit from Washington is going to change that."

Johnston's office said "Denver’s law was passed in 1989 and restricts the possession and sale of guns with magazines carrying more than 15 rounds," and that "Denver retains clear legal authority to regulate firearms within its borders to protect public safety, and the ordinance is consistent with both Colorado law and the U.S. Constitution."

However, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said Tuesday that, "I have directed the Civil Rights Division, through our new Second Amendment Section, to defend law-abiding Americans from restrictions such as those we are challenging in these cases."

"Law-abiding Americans, regardless of what city or state they reside in, should not have to live under threat of criminal sanction just for exercising their Second Amendment right to possess arms which are owned by tens of millions of their fellow citizens," Dhillon continued.

"In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court, in its landmark decision District of Columbia v. Heller, held that the Second Amendment protects the right of law-abiding citizens to possess weapons that are in common use for lawful purposes," the Justice Department said.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/RaDr89t

Skip Bayless to reunite with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN as First Take's ratings slip

For the first time in nearly a decade, Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith will debate each other on ESPN’s "First Take" this Friday.

On Monday, the network announced Bayless will join Smith for a "one-time reunion" in Los Angeles. Bayless last appeared on the show in June 2016, before leaving ESPN for FS1.

The dynamics this time are different. "First Take" used to be Bayless’ show. He personally asked Smith to join him as a full-time debate partner in 2012. At the time, Smith had just returned to ESPN as a radio host and did not have a television platform. Today, Smith is one of the biggest names in sports media, while Bayless no longer has a television show after leaving FS1 in 2024. He is now a contributor to Gilbert Arenas’ YouTube platform.

SPORTS MEDIA RACE-BAITERS ARE ALREADY TAKING NIKOLA JOKIC CRITICISM TOO FAR

Notice the wording ESPN used to promote Bayless’ appearance, calling it a "one-time reunion." That phrasing appears to shut down speculation that Bayless could return to "First Take" as a full-time host or a weekly contributor, like Chris "Mad Dog" Russo.

Still, Smith previously said he had moved on and had no interest in reuniting with Bayless. Plans and visions change.

As OutKick reported last month, most of ESPN’s shows are up double digits year over year. It is no coincidence that this surge coincided with the network toning down political and racial dialogue. However, "First Take" is the outlier.

"Get Up" airs directly before "First Take" and is up 18%. "The Pat McAfee Show," which follows "First Take," is up 16%. And yet, "First Take" is up just 5%, which falls below the standard Big Data + Panel bump.

In an industry where showing growth is paramount, ESPN management and Smith are certainly aware of "First Take’s" trends.

They hope Bayless can provide a much-needed bump, but we aren't so sure he will.

Bayless is no longer the needle mover he was when he left ESPN 10 years ago. Near the end of his run at FS1, "Undisputed" averaged just 30,000 viewers. He also recently stopped recording "The Skip Bayless Show" podcast, which drew only a few thousand views per episode on YouTube.

Further, Bayless cannot be the answer if Smith is the problem.

Since signing a record $100 million contract last year, Smith has appeared increasingly uninterested in the content. His rants are often predictable, repetitive and riddled with errors. Over the past year, he has repeatedly misidentified players or discussed players and coaches who are no longer active.

Perhaps Smith’s political commentary has become a distraction for him. If so, he should no longer host a daily two-hour sports debate show on ESPN.

Skip Bayless will not change that. If anything, known for his obsessive preparation, Bayless will further highlight Smith’s lack of command of current sports topics and make him look worse.

In other moves to boost viewership for "First Take," ESPN says rapper Cam’ron on May 5 and comedian Kid Mero on May 7 will also debate Smith next week.

For now, Bayless is excited for his return.

"CAN’T WAIT FOR FRIDAY," he posted on X. "MORE SOON."

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/8hpmefN