Home / Sports / ESPN Stars Apologize for Promoting Sketchy Solitaire App Backed by Stephen A. Smith
ESPN Stars Apologize for Promoting Sketchy Solitaire App Backed by Stephen A. Smith
10 Nov
Summary
- ESPN's Mina Kimes deletes tweet endorsing Papaya's Solitaire Cash app
- Kimes admits she didn't vet the app and is "deeply embarrassed"
- Other ESPN hosts like Dan Orlovsky and Laura Rutledge also deleted posts
On November 10, 2025, it was revealed that several ESPN stars, including Mina Kimes, had promoted a controversial Solitaire app backed by their colleague Stephen A. Smith. Kimes, one of ESPN's biggest personalities, admitted she was "deeply embarrassed" after deleting her tweet endorsing the Papaya's Solitaire Cash game.
Kimes and four other ESPN talents - Dan Orlovsky, Laura Rutledge, Ros Gold-Onwude, and Kendrick Perkins - had posted sponsored content for the app, promoting a "#BeatStephen" challenge featuring Smith. However, Kimes later acknowledged that she "didn't spend any time looking into the whole thing" and called it a "colossal f***-up" on her part.
