Stephen A. Smith opens up on Skip Bayless-ESPN speculation after ‘Undisputed’ bombshell

Skip Bayless might have “saved” Stephen A. Smith’s career, but those days — and the two working together — are a “far cry away,” according to the “First Take” personality, who addressed the topic on Friday.

After eight years, Bayless is soon leaving FS1’s “Undisputed,” The Post first reported , which sent shockwaves in the sports media world — with man wondering what his next move would be.

Smith, on his eponymous podcast, shut down any notion that he would work with Bayless again at ESPN — or anywhere, for that matter.

“Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, together as partners, working across from each other on a debate show, is over. It’s been over,” Smith said .

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“This is not the first time I’ve said it. There’s no negativity or shade being shown at Skip Bayless. I have moved on.”

Smith let his viewers know that there would be no TV reunion.

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“I’m past all of that,” Smith said. “And me connecting and reigniting things with Skip Bayless is not what I want my future to be. That is a past that I’ll always celebrate and be appreciative of, but that ain’t where I’m at now. I got bigger plans for myself that don’t include him nor anybody else as a partner.”

Smith had previously mentioned on his show on Wednesday that the two haven’t talked in a long time, as Bayless left ESPN for FS1 in 2016.

“He’s on that side of the fence, I’m on this side of the fences,” Smith said, as reported by Awful Announcing .

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Before Smith provided his take on the situation, an ESPN spokesperson had already closed the “First Take” door on Bayless.

“We are set with the current ‘First Take’ rotation, and wish Skip the best on his future endeavors,” the network told Front Office Sports this week.

Smith claimed he was not made aware of ESPN’s statement before it went public, but at the same time, he said his answer would have been the same.

The 72-year-old Bayless will have his final show later this summer, which means — for now — he will be left rudderless until he secures another position.

Smith, who sounded very adamant, also sprinkled some care into his message.

“But as I’ve stated on many occasions… I don’t root against my colleagues and contemporaries and certainly not my friends,” Smith said. “Being on ‘First Take’ and wanting to be No. 1 doesn’t mean I wanted Skip Bayless to fail, doesn’t mean that I want to see him out of the business.”

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