Stephen A. Smith challenges activists defending Karmelo Anthony after murder conviction

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith is pushing back against those who continue to question the murder conviction of Karmelo Anthony, using his podcast to argue that supporters of the 19-year-old are fighting the wrong battle.

On a recent episode of his “Straight Shooter” podcast titled “We’re Fighting the Wrong Battle!,” Mr. Smith maintained that the jury reached the correct conclusion.

“When we sit up here and we think about the battles that need to be fought, we gotta be mindful of what’s worth fighting for and what’s not worth fighting for,” he said.

Mr. Smith had previously stated on an earlier episode that “Karmelo Anthony murdered Austin Metcalf. There is no other way to slice it.” He reiterated on Tuesday that the self-defense argument did not hold up.

“He killed someone, and his argument of self-defense in the jury’s eyes didn’t hold weight,” he said.

Anthony was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison earlier this month after a Collin County, Texas, jury found that he intentionally stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in Frisco in April 2025. Anthony has since filed a notice of appeal.

Mr. Smith drew a contrast between the energy spent defending Anthony and what he described as a neglected crisis elsewhere, pointing to a recent surge in deadly shootings in Chicago.

“If you’re gonna fight as vigilantly, as diligently over that, how come we not fighting about what’s happening in Chicago? Why we ain’t fighting about that?” he said.

The commentator’s remarks came as activist Dominique Alexander, founder and president of the Next Generation Action Network, launched a campaign called “Stand with the Anthony Family” in response to the verdict. In a social media post promoting the initiative, Mr. Alexander said it was important “that people have access to accurate information, meaningful opportunities to participate, and a way to stay connected to the movement,” adding that “misinformation, division, or confusion” should not define the moment.

Mr. Alexander, a Dallas-based civil rights activist who served as a spokesperson for the Anthony family throughout the trial, also launched a new fundraising campaign on GiveSendGo after the original “Help Karmelo Official Fund,” which had raised nearly $634,000, was taken down following the conviction.