Key Moments:
- ESPN personalities, including Mina Kimes and Stephen A. Smith, have promoted the Solitaire Cash app amid ongoing legal challenges for developer Papaya Gaming.
- Lawsuits allege Solitaire Cash used bots to simulate real players, raising serious concerns about game integrity and consumer deception.
- Public backlash and social media criticism intensified after Stephen A. Smith was seen playing the app during an NBA Finals broadcast.
Controversial Promotions by ESPN Hosts
Several prominent ESPN figures have come under criticism for endorsing Solitaire Cash, a mobile gaming application developed by Papaya Gaming. The app is currently the subject of lawsuits claiming that it employed bots masked as human opponents, leading to accusations of manipulated outcomes in what was promoted as a skill-based platform. Among the ESPN hosts tied to promotional campaigns are Mina Kimes, Laura Rutledge, and Stephen A. Smith, with ads utilizing hashtags such as #ad and #BeatStephen to drive engagement. This situation has prompted active debate around the responsibilities that media personalities bear when backing gaming products under scrutiny.
ESPN employees publicly endorsing a real-money Solitaire game that is actively involved in a fraud case while nobody with YouTubeTV can watch their product is wild.
ESPN is useless outside of live events.
— Drew Garrison (@DrewGarrison) November 9, 2025
Incident During NBA Finals Stirs Debate
The controversy escalated after Stephen A. Smith was publicly caught playing solitaire on his phone while on air during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, shifting his focus away from live analysis. The viral footage led to widespread criticism on social media, placing increased attention on both ESPN and Solitaire Cash. In subsequent developments, Smith was featured in an AI-generated commercial referencing the incident and was later introduced as an ambassador for Papaya Gaming as well as the upcoming 2026 World Solitaire Championship. These actions fueled further backlash amid ongoing legal challenges against the app.
Legal Allegations Against Papaya Gaming
Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Papaya Gaming, asserting that the company used AI-driven bots disguised as human opponents to adjust game outcomes within Solitaire Cash tournaments. Plaintiffs contend that the game’s marketing as a fair, skill-based competition was misleading, with court filings alleging that bots were programmed to sway results. Papaya Gaming has denied these claims, stating it ceased employing bots in late 2023 and will contest the allegations in court.
Negative Public Response and Host Reactions
Public opinion quickly turned negative, with online commentary criticizing the involved personalities and raising broader questions about integrity in endorsements. Mina Kimes issued a public apology for her participation, describing her endorsement as “a colossal mistake” and stating she had not conducted sufficient research prior to promotion. Her statement received significant attention online.
Former ESPN host Michelle Beadle also criticized the endorsements on her podcast, saying:
“I’m not a religious person, but I pray for the downfall. I really do. It’s gross, man. You’ve got to have principles in this thing. ESPN pays him a gazillion dollars to get a lot of stuff wrong and yell. He gets caught playing solitaire during the NBA freaking Finals, the thing he’s an expert in. He made you look like fools for handing him a blank cheque in the first place.”
Broader Implications for Influencer Endorsements
The situation surrounding Solitaire Cash and its high-profile promoters highlights the potential reputational risks for individuals and organizations endorsing gaming apps facing ethical and legal examination. The heightened scrutiny serves as a cautionary example of the importance of thorough due diligence before associating with products facing regulatory or consumer trust concerns.
| ESPN Hosts Involved | Role in Campaign |
|---|---|
| Stephen A. Smith | App ambassador, appeared in AI-generated ad |
| Mina Kimes | Promoted app, later issued public apology |
| Laura Rutledge | Participated in promotional campaigns |
| Dan Orlovsky | Featured in advertisements |
| Kendrick Perkins | Involved in marketing efforts |
| Ros Gold-Onwude | Participated in app promotions |
- Author
Daniel Williams
