In a surprising turn of events, popular ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith has decided to end his partnership with Papaya Gaming, the company famous for its Solitaire Cash app.
This split comes amid growing controversy surrounding Papaya's real-money games, which have come under legal scrutiny.
It all started last month, when Smith became the "official ambassador" for Papaya's premier event, the World Solitaire Championship, scheduled to take place in Miami in February 2026. Smith’s ambassadorship followed a viral moment when he was spotted playing solitaire during the NBA Finals.
As part of the deal, Smith was to promote Papaya's Solitaire Cash app and engage fans with social media challenges, encouraging them to play for money and try to beat his scores. However, things took a turn when Papaya came under fire due to a lawsuit filed by a competitor named Skillz.
The lawsuit claimed Papaya's games were unfairly marketed as "games of skill," alleging the use of bots and manipulative practices, casting doubt on the fairness of their real-money solitaire game.
Why Stephen A. Smith Backed Out
Faced with these allegations, Stephen A. Smith and Papaya Gaming decided to "mutually agree" to end their partnership, cutting ties with the World Solitaire Championship promotion.
This decision came after ESPN urged several other on-air personalities, such as Mina Kimes, Dan Orlovsky, Laura Rutledge, and Kendrick Perkins, to also distance themselves from Papaya.
Mina Kimes was among those who publicly admitted to not properly checking into Papaya before participating in their campaigns, expressing regret for her involvement. Although Smith initially chose to maintain his partnership longer than his peers, he eventually followed suit and walked away.
Who is Stephen A. Smith?
Smith is a featured commentator and executive producer on ESPN’s “First Take,” where he leads daily debates on major sports topics. He also works as an NBA analyst on “NBA Countdown” and other ESPN/ABC NBA coverage, and has hosted various radio and podcast shows under the “The Stephen A. Smith Show” brand.
Before his television fame, he was a newspaper reporter and columnist, notably with The Philadelphia Inquirer, covering the NBA and other sports.
Over his career, he has hosted multiple TV shows (such as “Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith”), done national radio, appeared in films and TV cameos, and become one of ESPN’s highest-paid and most influential on-air talents.
The Current Papaya Situation
Despite these challenges, Papaya has denied the allegations, insisting its competitions remain fair and skill-based.
The World Solitaire Championship is still being promoted as a significant event for players in 2026. However, Smith's departure as its face has left a void and placed additional pressure on Papaya as they defend their reputation amid the ongoing legal battle.
This situation highlights the importance of careful consideration and investigation before diving into promotional partnerships, especially when controversy looms. As this story unfolds, it remains to be seen how Papaya Gaming will navigate these challenges and what impact this will have on the future of their gaming events.
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