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Tavis Smiley (/ˈtævɪs/; born September 13, 1964) is an American talk show host and author.[1][2] Smiley was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, and grew up in Bunker Hill, Indiana. After attending Indiana University, he worked during the late 1980s as an aide to Tom Bradley, the mayor of Los Angeles.

Key Information

Smiley became a radio commentator in 1991 and, starting in 1996, he hosted the talk show BET Talk (later renamed BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley) on Black Entertainment Television (BET). After Smiley sold an exclusive interview of Sara Jane Olson to ABC News in 2001, BET declined to renew his contract that year. Smiley then began hosting The Tavis Smiley Show on National Public Radio (NPR) (2002–04) and hosted Tavis Smiley on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on weekdays and The Tavis Smiley Show on Public Radio International (PRI) from 2004 until 2017.

Smiley had an employment dispute with PBS in December 2017 which resulted in his suing PBS for wrongful termination.[3] Smiley is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SmileyAudioMedia, Inc., headquartered in Los Angeles. Since June 2021 he has served as Chief Visionary Officer for his radio station, KBLA Talk 1580.

Early life

[edit]

Smiley was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, the son of Joyce Marie Roberts.[4] On September 13, 1966, his second birthday, his mother married Emory Garnell Smiley, a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force.[5] A few years later Tavis learned the identity of his biological father, whom he identifies in his autobiography, What I Know For Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America, only as "T".[6]

Smiley's family soon moved to Indiana when his stepfather was transferred to Grissom Air Force Base near Peru, Indiana. On arriving in Indiana, the Smiley family took up residence in a three-bedroom mobile home in the small town of Bunker Hill, Indiana.[7] The Smileys had three more children and added four more after the murder of Joyce's sister. Initially, four of her five children were cared for by their grandmother (known as "Big Mama"), but ill health impaired her ability, and Joyce and Emory took them in. The trailer home sheltered thirteen, including Tavis and his seven brothers and two sisters and the three adults.[8]

Smiley's mother was a deeply religious person, and the family attended the local New Bethel Tabernacle Church, part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World.[9] The Smiley children were forbidden from listening to secular music at home or going to the movie theater, and could watch only television shows their parents felt were family-friendly.[10]

When he was in seventh grade, New Bethel pastor Elder Rufus Mills accused Smiley and his siblings of "running wild, disobeying their teacher, disrespecting their teacher, disrespecting the sanctity of this building, and mocking the holy message being taught" during Sunday School.[11] According to Smiley's account of the incident, his Sunday School teacher became confused as she was answering questions about the Book of John, and other students "responded by giggling and acting a little unruly," although he and his sister Phyllis "remained quiet".[12] Garnell whipped Tavis and Phyllis with an extension cord, wounding the two children.[13] The next day at school, administrators found out about the children's injuries.[14] The local newspaper in Kokomo, Indiana, reported on the beating and the legal proceedings against Garnell; Tavis and Phyllis were sent to foster care temporarily.[15] Garnell told his children that the judge decided that he had "overreacted" and found he and Joyce were "concerned parents who were completely involved in [our] children's lives and well-being".[16]

Smiley became interested in politics at age 13 after attending a fundraiser for U.S. Senator Birch Bayh.[9] At Maconaquah High School in Bunker Hill, Indiana, a school that Smiley described as "98 percent white,"[17] he was active in the student council and the debate team, even though his parents were "skeptical of all non-church extracurricular activities".[18]

Education

[edit]

In 1982 Smiley enrolled at Indiana University Bloomington (IU). Because his parents refused to complete financial aid papers, Smiley entered the university with only $50 and a small suitcase.[19] Administrators let Smiley complete the paperwork to become a full-time student.[20] The summer after his first year, Smiley worked, attended summer classes, and lived off campus with Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball players, then being coached by Bob Knight.[21] Smiley was accepted into the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity during his second year, and became business manager of his dormitory, a member of the student senate, and director of minority affairs.[22] After his friend Denver Smith was killed by Indiana police officers who claimed to have acted in self-defense, Smiley helped lead protests to defend Smith, who he believed had been wrongfully killed.[23] Those protests led him to a work-study internship at the office of Bloomington Mayor Tomilea Allison, where he was paid $5 an hour. Smiley wrote letters to local residents, researched for Mayor Allison, and helped write position papers on local issues.[24] In his autobiography, Smiley says that a deputy mayor caught him systematically adding extra hours to his time sheets, illegal behavior that could have seen him charged with a felony and expelled from college, but instead of pressing charges, Mayor Allison allowed him to work all of the hours for which he had already been paid, and did not tell other people what he had done.[25]

During the first semester of his junior year, Smiley was under academic probation; he blamed his extracurricular activities for interfering with his studies.[26] When Smiley visited Los Angeles to attend a national student leaders' convention, the cousin of his roommate introduced Smiley to football star Jim Brown. Brown introduced Smiley to fellow football player George Hughley, who worked for Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley and connected Smiley to Mayor Bradley's staff.[27] Every week after meeting Bradley's staff, Smiley wrote a letter to the mayor's office asking for an internship, and once flew to Los Angeles to appeal. However, by summer he received a letter from the city stating that all internship positions were filled.[28] Smiley then handwrote a letter to the mayor that he said represented his feeling "from the heart," and Bradley called Smiley to say that he had a position available for him.[29] Although it counted for college credit, the internship was unpaid, so the Bloomington Community Progress Council funded Smiley with $5,000 for living expenses in Los Angeles, and Brown allowed Smiley to live as a houseguest in September 1985. Starting the following month, Smiley lived in the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity house at the University of Southern California. At City Hall, Smiley worked at the Office of Youth Development on the 22nd floor.[30]

Smiley twice considered quitting college, first during his junior year,[31] and then after finishing his internship with Mayor Bradley. Bradley persuaded Smiley to return to college.[32] He took the LSAT twice because, he thought he "didn't do great the first time," and he "did a little better" the second time; he intended to apply to Harvard Law School.[33] Instead, Smiley did not graduate from college at all, because he failed a required course in his senior year, and "did poorly in several other courses," which meant he could not complete his degree on time; rather than stay for an extra term, he chose to leave IU and move to Los Angeles, where he had been promised a job.[34] Following a hiring freeze by the government of Los Angeles, Smiley served as an aide to Mayor Bradley until 1990.[35] A 1988 article in the Los Angeles Times identified Smiley as "a Bradley administrative assistant who works in South Los Angeles".[36] In 2003, Smiley officially received his degree from Indiana University in public affairs.[37]

Career

[edit]

Radio commentator

[edit]
Smiley with historian Jon Wiener on his political podcast entitled Start Making Sense in 2015

Campaigning for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council in 1991 against incumbent Ruth Galanter, Smiley finished fourth among 15 candidates. He became a radio commentator, broadcasting one-minute daily radio segments called The Smiley Report on KGFJ radio.[9] With Ruben Navarrette Jr., Smiley co-hosted a local talk show in Los Angeles where his strongly held views on race and politics, combined with his arguments regarding the impact of institutional racism and substandard educational and economic opportunities for inner-city black youth, earned him attention at the Los Angeles Times. His commentaries focused on local and national current-affairs issues affecting the African-American community.[38] For six months, Smiley worked on a community news program on a local cable network, and spent six more months working on television in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[39] From 2010 to 2013, Smiley and Cornel West worked together to host their own radio talk show, Smiley & West. They were featured together interviewing musician Bill Withers in the 2009 documentary film Still Bill.[40] He was the new host of Tavis Talks on BlogTalkRadio's Tavis Smiley Network.

In 1996 Smiley became a frequent commentator to the Tom Joyner Morning Show, a nationally syndicated radio show broadcast on black and urban stations in the United States.[41] He developed a friendship with host Joyner.

BET Tonight show

[edit]

Also in 1996 Smiley began hosting and executive producing BET Tonight (originally BET Talk when it first premiered), a public affairs discussion show on the Black Entertainment Television (BET) network. He interviewed major political figures and celebrities, and discussed topics ranging from racial profiling and police brutality to R&B music and Hollywood gossip.

Firing from BET

[edit]

Smiley hosted BET Tonight until 2001 when, in a controversial move, the network announced that Smiley's contract would not be renewed. This sparked an angry response from Smiley, who sought to rally his radio audience to protest BET's decision. Robert L. Johnson, founder of BET, defended the decision, stating that Smiley had been fired because he had sold an exclusive interview to ABC News without first offering the story to BET, even though Smiley's contract with BET did not require him to do so. Smiley countered with the assertion that he had offered the story—an interview with Sara Jane Olson, an alleged former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army—to CBS, which, along with BET, was owned by Viacom. Smiley ultimately sold the interview to rival network ABC, he said, only after CBS passed on the interview, and suggested that his firing was payback for the publicity he gained as a result of providing an exclusive interview to ABC.[42] Ultimately, BET and Viacom did not reverse their decision to terminate Smiley's contract.

NPR talk show

[edit]

Smiley was then offered a chance to host a radio talk show on National Public Radio. The Tavis Smiley Show was broadcast daily from January 2002 to December 16, 2004, in Los Angeles,[43] when Smiley decided not to renew his contract with NPR.[44] The show was a news and opinion program focusing upon issues of race, diversity, and ethnicity and often featured guest speakers. It was an hour-long show. Some of the reasons cited based on an article by Howard Kurtz for not renewing the contract were 1) Tavis Smiley wanted to tape his show a day in advance, and NPR did not agree; 2) against federal funding policies, Tavis Smiley wished to own the right to rebroadcast the show; and 3) Tavis Smiley appealed to have the budget for promoting the program significantly increased, and NPR did not have the budget to do so.[45] It was announced in 2004 that he would be leaving his show, citing the network's inability to reach a more diverse audience.[46]

It was replaced on some radio stations by News & Notes which follows much the same format and topics. Many other radio stations replaced it with the short-lived NPR News with Tony Cox.

Smiley leaves NPR

[edit]

Smiley launched a weekly version of his radio program The Tavis Smiley Show on April 29, 2005, distributed by NPR rival Public Radio International (PRI). It was a one-hour weekly program featuring interviews with news makers, thought leaders and artists and seeks to bring diverse perspectives to the airwaves. It was produced by Smiley Radio Properties, Inc., in partnership with PRI[47] at Smiley's studio in Los Angeles, California.[48] The program ran two hours per week until October 2010 when the second hour became the sister program Smiley & West, co-hosted by longtime Smiley collaborator Dr. Cornel West. The show ended after thirteen years of broadcast in December 2017.[49]

Move to PBS

[edit]

Smiley also hosted Tavis Smiley, a late night talk show televised on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) network and produced in association with WNET in New York.[50]

In March 2006, The Smiley Group and Third World Press published The Covenant with Black America, a collection of essays by black scholars and professionals edited by Smiley. The book covers topics ranging from education to healthcare, and was a New York Times Bestseller.[51]

Smiley moderated two live presidential candidate forums in 2007: a Democratic forum on June 28 at Howard University in Washington, D.C.,[52] and a Republican forum on September 27 at Morgan State University in Baltimore.[53]

Dancing with the Stars

[edit]

On September 4, 2014, it was announced that Smiley would be competing on the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars. He paired with professional dancer Sharna Burgess.[54] They were eliminated on the second week of competition and finished in 12th place.[55]

Firing from PBS

[edit]

In 2017, Smiley was accused of violating the morals clause of his contract. Smiley denied the allegations and sued PBS citing wrongful termination. The court ultimately ruled in PBS's favor, ordering that Smiley compensate PBS $2.6 million.[56]

KBLA Radio

[edit]

As of 2021, Smiley hosts a radio show on KBLA Talk 1580 from 9am to noon PT on weekdays,[57] and he is also host of the Tavis Smiley Podcast in conjunction with KBLA.[58]

Media appearances

[edit]

In 2000, they began hosting annual town hall meetings called "The State of the Black Union," which were aired live on the C-SPAN cable television network. Each of these town hall meetings focused on a specific topic affecting the African-American community, featuring a panel of African-American leaders, educators, and professionals, assembled before an audience, to discuss problems related to the forum's topic, as well as potential solutions.[59] Smiley also used his commentator status on Joyner's radio show to launch several advocacy campaigns to highlight discriminatory practices in the media and government, and to rally support for causes such as the awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal to civil rights icon Rosa Parks. Smiley also began building a national reputation as a political commentator with numerous appearances on political discussion shows on MSNBC, ABC, and CNN. Smiley has appeared on the Democracy Now! podcast.[60] and Real Time with Bill Maher.[61]

Controversy

[edit]

TSU dispute

[edit]

In 2005, Smiley donated and raised thousands of dollars for Texas Southern University. The School of Communication was temporarily named after him, before TSU and Smiley mutually agreed to remove his name.[citation needed]

Barack Obama commentary

[edit]

On April 11, 2008, Smiley announced that he would resign in June 2008 as a commentator on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. He cited fatigue and a busy schedule in a personal call to Joyner. However, Joyner, referring to several commentaries in which Smiley was critical of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, indicated otherwise on his program, stating: "The real reason is that he can't take the hate he's been getting regarding the Barack issue—hate from the black people that he loves so much."[62]

In 2012, Smiley participated in a "Poverty Tour" with Princeton University professor Cornel West to promote their book The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto. The stated aim of the tour was to highlight the plight of the impoverished population of the United States prior to the 2012 presidential election, whose candidates Smiley and West stated had ignored the plight of the poor.[63][64][65][66]

Sexual misconduct allegations

[edit]

On December 13, 2017, PBS indefinitely suspended Smiley. PBS issued a statement saying that it had hired a law firm to conduct an investigation "immediately after learning of troubling allegations regarding Mr. Smiley" and that this investigation "uncovered multiple, credible allegations of conduct that is inconsistent with the values and standards of PBS."[67]

On December 14, 2017, Smiley described the PBS investigation as "biased and sloppy" and said he would fight the allegations and the damage to his reputation. He released a statement saying, "I have the utmost respect for women and celebrate the courage of those who have come forth to tell their truth",[68] and "To be clear, I have never groped, coerced or exposed myself inappropriately to any workplace colleague in my entire broadcast career, covering six networks over 30 years".[68]

Soon after the suspension, Smiley went on a country-wide tour to defend his innocence and denouncing workplace harassment.[69][70] In 2018, Smiley sued PBS for wrongful termination while PBS countersued claiming a breach of a morals clause in his contract. PBS prevailed and on August 5, 2020, Smiley was ordered to pay PBS $2.6 million in damages.

Honorary degrees

[edit]

Smiley was honored with the NAACP Image Award for best news, talk, or information series for three consecutive years (1997–99) for his work on BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley.[71] Smiley's advocacy efforts have earned him numerous awards and recognition including the recipient of the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award from the National Association of Minorities in Communications.[72] In 1999, he founded the Tavis Smiley Foundation, which funds programs that develop young leaders in the community. Since its inception, more than 6,500 young people have participated in the foundation's Youth to Leaders Training workshops and conferences.[73]

[edit]

Smiley was named No. 2 change agent in the field of media behind Oprah Winfrey in Ebony magazine's "Power 150" list.

Time added him in 2009 as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World".

In 2014, Smiley received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, honoring his contributions to television.[78]

Smiley is referenced in the KRS-One song "Clear 'Em Out."[79]

Bibliography

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References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Tavis Smiley

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Tavis Smiley (born September 13, 1964) is an American talk show host, author, and political commentator specializing in discussions of race, poverty, and public policy. Raised in Indiana after early years in Mississippi, he earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana University in 1986 before entering local politics as an aide to officials in Bloomington and Los Angeles. Smiley transitioned to media in the 1990s, becoming a fixture on BET News and later hosting a PBS late-night program from 2004 to 2017 that featured interviews with political leaders, activists, and cultural figures. He also served as a radio commentator on the Tom Joyner Morning Show for over a decade and has authored or co-authored books such as The Covenant with Black America (2006), alongside launching initiatives like the State of the Black Union conference series to address economic disparities in Black communities. Smiley's career includes notable recognitions, such as multiple for his PBS work in the late 1990s and early 2000s, honorary doctorates, and a 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for humanitarian efforts. However, in December 2017, PBS suspended and ultimately terminated distribution of his show following an internal probe that uncovered multiple credible allegations of , including inappropriate relationships with subordinates, , and physical touching, violating the network's morality clause. Smiley denied the claims of , attributing his firing to racial and lack of , but a 2020 jury ruled in PBS's favor, ordering him to pay $1.5 million in damages. Since then, he has pursued independent media ventures, including radio hosting attempts.

Early Life and Background

Childhood and Family Influences

Tavis Smiley was born on September 13, 1964, in , to Joyce Marie Roberts, a single teenage mother who became pregnant at age 18. On his second birthday, September 13, 1966, his mother married Emory G. Smiley, a U.S. Air Force and , who became his stepfather and adopted him along with his biological siblings. The family relocated to the , area near Grissom Air Force Base following Emory Smiley's military transfer, where they lived in a trailer home that housed 13 people, including Tavis as the third of ten children, his seven brothers and two sisters, a grandmother, and four orphaned cousins whose mother—Joyce Smiley's sister—had been murdered. This large, extended household reflected economic constraints typical of a family in a predominantly white rural community. Joyce Smiley, a devout Pentecostal minister, instilled strict religious in the household, limiting exposure to unapproved television shows and movies while emphasizing faith and moral upbringing. Emory Smiley's military background contributed to a structured, tough-love environment focused on and resilience amid the challenges of and family expansion. These influences shaped Smiley's early values, fostering a strong and community-oriented perspective rooted in familial responsibility and spiritual conviction.

Formal Education and Early Ambitions

Smiley graduated from Maconaquah High School in , where he demonstrated early leadership by serving as and being voted "Most Likely to Succeed," reflecting his budding interest in politics. He enrolled at around 1982, majoring in public affairs through the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and participated actively in student government and the debate team during his time there. As a student, Smiley interned for the mayor of Bloomington, gaining initial exposure to local governance, and later extended this political engagement by interning during his junior year for Tom Bradley, the first African American . Smiley departed in 1988 without completing his degree to accept a full-time aide position with Mayor Bradley in , prioritizing practical political experience over immediate academic completion. He returned to finish the remaining credits and received his in public affairs in 2003. His early ambitions centered on a career in , as shown by his high school leadership roles, university involvements, and post-college work as an administrative aide to Bradley until 1990, followed by an unsuccessful run for in 1991 targeting racial and community issues. These pursuits underscored Smiley's focus on and for African American concerns before transitioning to .

Broadcasting Career

Initial Roles in Radio and BET

Smiley entered after his unsuccessful 1991 bid for a seat on the , in which he placed fourth among fourteen candidates at age 26. He launched The Smiley Report, a one-minute daily commentary segment on political and social issues, airing on KGFJ-AM, a Los Angeles station oriented toward black audiences; Smiley personally recruited sponsors to fund the program. The popularity of The Smiley Report facilitated its syndication to other stations and opened doors to additional radio work, including co-hosting a local talk show with Ruben Navarrette Jr. In 1996, Smiley achieved national radio exposure as a political commentator on the syndicated , then the highest-rated morning program in radio, where he provided analysis on current events from an African American perspective. Concurrently in 1996, Smiley debuted on Black Entertainment Television () as host and executive producer of BET Talk, a nightly public affairs program that was soon renamed BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley; the show featured discussions and interviews with politicians, celebrities, and community leaders on issues affecting black Americans, such as economic policy and civil rights. BET Tonight aired until Smiley's contract ended in 2001, by which point it had established him as a prominent voice in targeting African American viewers.

BET Tonight Hosting and 2004 Firing

Tavis Smiley hosted the late-night public affairs BET Tonight on Black Entertainment Television () starting in 1996, initially under the name BET Talk before a . The program featured discussions on political, social, and cultural issues pertinent to African American audiences, earning Smiley recognition including an Image Award for best news series in an earlier year. Smiley's role built on his prior BET reporting, such as a investigative series on the that boosted his profile within the network. On March 21, 2001, BET announced it would not renew Smiley's contract for BET Tonight, which he had hosted for five years, citing low ratings as a primary factor despite the show's prior accolades. The decision escalated into immediate termination following public backlash, with BET Chairman pointing to "a lack of mutual business respect" exacerbated by Smiley granting an exclusive interview with Sarah Jane Olson—accused in a 1970s —to ABC's Primetime Live on March 1, 2001, without first offering it to BET. Smiley contested the violation, asserting his contract permitted independent projects as long as they promoted his BET affiliation, and noted he had invested significant personal funds (in the six figures) in securing the Olson interview while BET had declined to air his earlier "" symposiums on issues. The firing sparked widespread protests from Smiley's supporters, who viewed it as emblematic of BET's post-2000 shift under new owner Viacom toward entertainment programming at the expense of substantive public affairs content. Smiley publicly accused of "selling out" to corporate interests, prompting Johnson to defend the move as his independent call and deny Viacom interference, though speculation arose over pressure from Viacom executive due to the ABC interview competing with CBS programming. Johnson predicted Smiley's future success elsewhere, and the host departed in April 2001 amid thousands of viewer complaints, transitioning soon after to commentary.

NPR Commentary Show and 2004 Departure

Tavis Smiley hosted The Tavis Smiley Show, a daily one-hour newsmagazine program distributed by , from its launch in January 2002 until its final broadcast on December 16, 2004. The program aired on approximately 87 public radio stations and featured interviews with guests, discussions on current events, and Smiley's personal commentaries, such as reflections on political initiatives like the 1994 Republican "." Throughout its run, the show emphasized topics of interest to diverse audiences, particularly African American communities, aligning with Smiley's broader focus. Smiley reportedly experienced ongoing frustrations in producing the program, including frequent disputes with executives over its tone, guest selections, and overall direction, which he described as exhausting alongside his other commitments. In November 2004, as contract renewal negotiations approached expiration in January 2005, Smiley announced he would not continue, stating that NPR had "tried hard but fallen short" in efforts to expand its reach to black listeners despite the network's stated commitments to diversity. He characterized the departure as a deliberate choice to prioritize platforms better suited to his goals, amid what he viewed as NPR's inadequate progress on audience diversification. NPR vice president for communications David Umansky described the decision as a surprise, noting the network's investment in the program. Following the show's end, many stations replaced it with News with Tony Cox, reflecting a shift toward news-focused content. Smiley's exit drew mixed responses from station managers, with some expressing support for his diversity critiques while others questioned the viability of his format.

PBS Late-Night Program and 2017 Termination

In January 2004, premiered Tavis Smiley, a weeknight hosted by Tavis Smiley, originating from studios in Hollywood and featuring interviews with newsmakers, authors, entertainers, and experts on social, political, economic, and cultural issues. The program, which aired for approximately 13 years across 14 seasons, emphasized discussions relevant to African American communities alongside broader topical content, and received renewals including a two-year extension announced in November 2013. On December 13, 2017, PBS indefinitely suspended distribution of the show pending an internal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Smiley, prompted by reports from subordinates. An outside law firm conducted the probe, which uncovered multiple violations of PBS workplace standards, including credible claims of sexual relationships between Smiley and subordinates, some involving coercive elements or inappropriate workplace behavior. Public Radio International (PRI), a co-distributor, terminated its relationship with Smiley two days later. PBS formally ended the show's distribution in December 2017, citing the investigation's findings as the basis for non-renewal. Smiley denied the allegations, asserting they were unsubstantiated and influenced by racial bias against him as a prominent host, and sued for wrongful termination and in 2018. countersued, alleging Smiley violated the morality clauses in his 2015 and 2016 contracts through of female employees and relationships with subordinates. In March 2020, a Washington, D.C., jury ruled in 's favor, finding Smiley liable for breaching the clauses and awarding approximately $1.5 million in ; a subsequent in August 2020 increased the total to $2.6 million, including and reimbursements for legal and investigation costs. Smiley has maintained no admission of guilt and pursued post-termination media ventures without issuing a public apology.

Post-Termination Ventures Including KBLA Radio (2021-Present)

In June 2021, Tavis Smiley purchased Talk 1580 AM, a Los Angeles-based radio station, as part of his efforts to reestablish a broadcasting presence following his 2017 departure from . The acquisition positioned as America's newest progressive radio network and the first -owned talk station in , with Smiley emphasizing a focus on providing a platform for Black and progressive perspectives on and national issues. The flagship program, Tavis Smiley, airs weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT and repeats from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. PT, featuring interviews with thought leaders, opinion makers, celebrities, authors, and artists, alongside socially conscious commentary. The show has been syndicated to other markets, including WVON 1690 AM in and WURD Radio 900 AM in , expanding its reach beyond . Episodes are also distributed as s on platforms such as and , where the program has received a 4.9-star rating based on over 80 reviews as of recent data. KBLA's programming under Smiley's involvement includes additional shows such as First Things First with Dominique DiPrima, Jesse Jackson Jr., and The DL Hughley Afternoon Show, alongside special events like live town halls. Smiley has continued hosting discussions on topics including Black health, , and political analysis, with a notable June 18, 2025, panel on the impacts of on Black communities broadcast via . The station promotes digital engagement through its app and social media, where Smiley actively shares content and guest appearances as of October 2025. Smiley has framed these ventures as a direct response to his exit, maintaining that he has never harassed anyone and rejecting calls for apology amid prior allegations. No other major broadcasting launches by Smiley are documented in this period, with KBLA serving as the core of his post-2017 media activities.

Political Commentary and Advocacy

Critiques of Barack Obama Administration

Tavis Smiley, an initial supporter of 's presidential campaign, developed pointed critiques of the administration's handling of economic disparities affecting , arguing that the first black presidency failed to translate symbolic progress into substantive gains for black communities. He asserted that black households lost ground economically, with median wealth for black families declining by over 50% between 2005 and 2013 amid the Great Recession's aftermath, exacerbated by higher rates of home foreclosures and persistent double-digit rates exceeding 16% at peaks in 2010 and 2011. Smiley emphasized that universal economic policies, such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, provided insufficient targeted relief for structural barriers like discriminatory lending and job market exclusion faced disproportionately by . A cornerstone of Smiley's advocacy was the 2011 "Poverty Tour," co-organized with Cornel West, which spanned 15 cities from Chicago to Los Angeles starting August 15, 2011, to spotlight the 46 million Americans living in poverty— including over 27% of black individuals in 2010—and press for federal prioritization of anti-poverty measures. During the tour, Smiley and West faulted Obama for sidelining poverty in favor of Wall Street bailouts and deficit reduction, claiming the administration rendered the poor "invisible" in national budget debates and capitulated excessively to Republican opposition on job creation initiatives. They highlighted Obama's absence from Smiley's annual State of the Black Union forums, interpreting it as reluctance to address race-specific economic pain to avoid perceptions of favoritism. Smiley positioned his commentary as "" aimed at accountability, rejecting labels of anti-Obama animus and framing critiques around respect for the president's office while urging correction of policy oversights, such as the lack of a dedicated conference on despite repeated calls in 2011 and 2012. In his 2016 book The Covenant with Black America: Ten Years Later, he revisited the 2006 manifesto co-edited by himself, which outlined ten action areas like and , contending that Obama's tenure saw minimal advancement in these domains despite declining overall black rates from 27.4% in 2011 to 22% in 2016, as broader metrics like wealth inequality and incarceration persisted without race-conscious interventions. Critics within black media and academia, including figures like , accused Smiley of undue harshness that risked undermining Obama during election cycles, yet Smiley maintained that principled dissent—dialed back temporarily in 2012 but resumed post-reelection—served the community's long-term interests over short-term political loyalty. In a January 2017 open letter to Obama upon leaving office, Smiley balanced appreciation for milestones like the Affordable Care Act's expansion—benefiting uninsured black rates dropping from 20% in 2010 to 11% by 2016—with calls to rectify the administration's hesitance on explicit racial equity agendas.

Broader Advocacy for African American Issues

Smiley founded and hosted the annual State of the Black Union forum starting in 2000, convening African American leaders, scholars, and activists to deliberate on pressing community challenges including economic disparities, , , and health access. The event, held in cities like and New Orleans, emphasized and policy agendas tailored to black advancement, drawing thousands of participants and influencing public discourse until its discontinuation in 2010 to prioritize other media projects. In 2006, Smiley edited The Covenant with Black America, a New York Times bestseller compiling essays from experts on ten priority domains: personal responsibility, health and wellness, , , economic viability, , environment, faith, media representation, and political empowerment. The volume proposed actionable strategies, such as community-led health initiatives and programs, rooted in showing persistent racial gaps—for instance, at $6,314 versus $88,651 for whites in 2004 figures—and called for collective accountability beyond government reliance. Updated editions in 2016 and 2024 incorporated post-recession analyses, highlighting stagnant rates around 21% per U.S. Bureau and advocating digital equity and voter amid ongoing disparities. Through the Tavis Smiley Foundation, he launched a four-year, $3 million anti-poverty campaign in , funding grants for urban programs targeting job training, financial education, and youth mentorship in underserved black communities. Complementing this, Smiley co-led national poverty tours with scholar starting in 2011, visiting over 30 cities to spotlight structural barriers like unemployment rates twice the national average for (10.2% versus 5.1% in 2011 data) and foster grassroots dialogues on wealth-building. These efforts underscore Smiley's emphasis on moral imperatives for black economic , critiquing dependency models while promoting and family stability as causal drivers of uplift.

Engagements with Progressive and Conservative Viewpoints

Smiley has frequently aligned with progressive causes, particularly those addressing and racial justice for , through initiatives like the State of the Black Union forums, which from 2000 to 2010 featured speakers such as and advocating for policy reforms on , education, and healthcare. In collaboration with , he co-authored books such as The Rich and the Rest of Us (2012), critiquing wealth concentration and neoliberal policies, and organized a 2011-2012 national "Poverty Tour" to highlight grassroots progressive solutions to income disparity. These efforts positioned Smiley as a vocal proponent of left-leaning agendas, including demands for a "Covenant with Black America" emphasizing government intervention in social welfare. Despite this progressive orientation, Smiley has engaged conservative viewpoints through moderated discussions and interviews, fostering dialogue on national issues. In 2007, he hosted the "All-American Presidential Forums" on PBS, providing a platform for Republican presidential candidates to address African American audiences on topics like economic policy and foreign affairs, emphasizing substantive exchange over partisan attacks. At the 2009 State of the Black Union, he invited Michael Steele, then-Republican National Committee Chairman, to speak on conservative approaches to black empowerment, illustrating Smiley's inclusion of GOP perspectives amid predominantly liberal panels. On his and programs, Smiley incorporated conservative guests into broader ideological debates, such as a 2011 C-SPAN panel for "America's Next Chapter" featuring , a former speechwriter, and David Brody, chief political correspondent for the conservative , to discuss , government role, and Tea Party critiques of . These engagements often highlighted tensions, as seen in Smiley's show segments critiquing conservative tax proposals as favoring the wealthy, yet allowing proponents like policy analysts to defend them. Smiley's approach reflects a commitment to multi-perspective , even as his commentary frequently challenged conservative stances on issues like corporate .

Professional Disputes and Controversies

Tennessee State University Naming Dispute (2006-2008)

In 2004, Tavis Smiley pledged to donate $1 million personally to Texas Southern University's communications program and to raise an additional $1 million from other sources, prompting the university to name its School of Communications the Tavis Smiley School of Communications and to associate his name with the KTSU radio facility. By May 2008, however, Smiley had contributed only $50,000 toward his personal pledge, leading university officials to question the fulfillment of the commitment amid a broader review of naming policies. The dispute intensified after John Rudley became TSU president in early 2008, with communication between parties breaking down over the unraised funds and unmet expectations; under a new university policy requiring $10 million for naming a college—with half paid upfront—the arrangement no longer aligned with institutional standards. On October 23, 2009, TSU's board of regents voted to remove Smiley's name, citing the failure to honor the original partnership terms; Rudley informed Smiley in a letter that the university would "treat the partnership as being at an end" to enable recognition for other donors. Smiley responded that he still intended to complete the $1 million personal donation and described TSU's action as rejecting a significant during economic hardship, though he did not publicly detail plans for the remaining funds or efforts at the time. The removal highlighted tensions over donor in higher education , with TSU prioritizing verifiable contributions over initial pledges. No litigation followed, and the school reverted to its prior designation without further public reconciliation statements from either party.

PBS Contract Breach and Morality Clause Litigation (2017-2024)

In December 2017, PBS indefinitely suspended distribution of Tavis Smiley, the produced by Smiley's company TS Media, following an internal investigation by an outside that uncovered "multiple and credible allegations" of by Smiley toward subordinates. The investigation, prompted by employee complaints, found evidence of sexual relationships with multiple female staff members, retaliatory actions against those who rejected advances, and inappropriate workplace conduct including lewd comments and demands for personal favors. PBS cited these findings as violating the "morals clause" in Smiley's production contracts for 2015, 2016, and 2017, which prohibited conduct that could damage the network's reputation or bring it into public disrepute. Smiley denied the allegations, characterizing the suspension as racially motivated and lacking due process, and filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against PBS in D.C. Superior Court in February 2018 on behalf of TS Media. He alleged PBS wrongfully terminated the show without evidence, violated contract terms by failing to provide notice or opportunity to cure, and used the morals clause as a pretext amid broader industry scrutiny of sexual misconduct claims during the #MeToo movement. PBS countersued shortly thereafter, asserting that Smiley's actions—including undisclosed consensual relationships with subordinates and public denials of a prior 2007 settlement with a female employee over similar complaints—constituted material breaches of the morals clause and related accounting provisions requiring payment of backend fees to the network. The countersuit sought damages for lost distribution fees and reputational harm, emphasizing that Smiley's conduct exposed PBS to legal and public risks. The case proceeded to trial in early 2020, where witnesses testified to Smiley's workplace affairs, coercive behavior, and efforts to conceal relationships, supporting PBS's invocation of the morals clause. On March 4, 2020, a Washington, D.C., jury ruled in PBS's favor, finding that Smiley had breached the morals clause through his conduct and awarded the network approximately $1.486 million in damages for unpaid fees and contractual violations. The jury rejected Smiley's claims that PBS had breached the contract by suspending the show without justification or that racial bias influenced the decision. Post-trial motions extended the proceedings; in August 2020, D.C. Superior Court Shana Frost Matini upheld the verdict and ordered Smiley to pay $2.6 million total, incorporating the award plus additional amounts for breached obligations and prejudgment , while denying Smiley's requests for a or to vacate the ruling. No further appeals or resolutions were publicly reported through 2024, effectively concluding the litigation in PBS's favor and affirming the enforceability of the based on the presented evidence of Smiley's conduct.

Sexual Misconduct Allegations and Investigations

In December 2017, PBS suspended distribution of Tavis Smiley following an internal investigation that uncovered multiple credible allegations of sexual misconduct against the host, including sexual relationships with subordinates, inappropriate comments, unwanted touching, and verbal abuse. The network's probe involved interviews with witnesses who described a pattern of behavior creating a hostile work environment, with PBS stating the conduct violated its standards. Smiley, who hosted the late-night program since 2004, was permanently terminated shortly thereafter. Smiley denied engaging in harassment, asserting that any prior relationships with subordinates were consensual and predated his PBS affiliation, and he rejected claims of coercion, groping, or exposure. In response, he initiated a breach-of-contract lawsuit against PBS in January 2018, alleging racial bias motivated the termination amid the #MeToo movement, while PBS countersued, seeking repayment of approximately $1.9 million in production funding and citing violations of a morality clause. Additional witness accounts emerged in court filings, detailing lewd language and advances toward subordinates, with six women ultimately accusing Smiley of harassment. Legal proceedings culminated in a February 2020 trial where Smiley acknowledged consensual sexual relationships but labeled harassment claims as fabrications. A jury found he violated the morality clause, awarding PBS $1.5 million in damages on March 4, 2020; a subsequent ruling increased the total to $2.6 million, including fees. In September 2024, a federal judge denied Smiley's motion to dismiss PBS's ongoing suit, upholding allegations of workplace sexual relationships as grounds for termination. No criminal charges resulted from the matter.

Awards, Honors, and Intellectual Contributions

Key Awards Including 2023-2024 Recognitions

In 2023, Smiley received the Award from TALKERS magazine, recognized as the highest honor in the industry for his contributions to and advocacy. In 2024, he was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by President Joseph R. Biden Jr., honoring his lifelong commitment to humanitarian work, , and . Earlier key recognitions include multiple : for best news, talk, or information series from 1997 to 1999; and an additional Image Award in 2000 for his television work. In 2000, Smiley earned a Black Emmy Award and the Award for his media and advocacy efforts. He received the President's Award in 2001 for advancing civil rights through journalism. In 2007, presented him with the President's Medal for Excellence during commencement, acknowledging his public influence and educational impact. Other notable honors encompass the Humanitarian Award from the and the 2016 Sankofa Freedom Award from the Tulsa City-County Library for his philanthropy and freedom-focused advocacy.

Honorary Degrees and Public Accolades

Smiley has received multiple honorary degrees from academic institutions recognizing his contributions to public discourse and advocacy. In 2004, conferred upon him a during its Kokomo campus commencement. awarded him a in 2006 at its commencement exercises. granted a in 2007. presented an honorary in May 2008 following his commencement address. That same year, bestowed a . In May 2009, awarded him an honorary doctorate after he delivered its . Among public accolades, Smiley was selected for TIME magazine's 2009 list of the 100 Most Influential People, praised by for his role in fostering national conversations on race and . He received a star on the on April 24, 2014, in the television category, acknowledging his broadcasting career. In 2024, Smiley was honored with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for his humanitarian efforts, including founding the Tavis Smiley Foundation to support youth leadership and education programs.

Bibliography and Authored Works

Tavis Smiley has authored or co-authored over 20 books since 1993, often focusing on African American experiences, , economic disparity, and leadership. His works include memoirs, collaborative biographies, and edited anthologies addressing systemic issues in the United States. Several have achieved commercial success, including New York Times bestseller status. A landmark publication is The Covenant with Black America (February 22, 2006), edited by Smiley, which compiled essays on , , and economic opportunity for Black communities and became the longest-running #1 bestseller by an African American author or editor in New York Times history. Follow-up editions include The Covenant with Black America: Ten Years Later (2016) and Covenant with Black America – Twenty Years Later (August 27, 2024). Other key authored or co-authored titles encompass:
  • What I Know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America (2013), a memoir detailing his Indiana upbringing and rise in media.
  • Fail Up: 20 Lessons on Building Success from Failure (2011), offering strategies drawn from interviews with figures like Jay-Z and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
  • The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto (2012, with Cornel West), critiquing post-recession inequality and proposing policy solutions.
  • Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Final Year (September 16, 2014, with David Ritz), examining King's challenges from 1967 to 1968 based on archival research and interviews.
  • My Journey with Maya (April 7, 2015, with David Ritz), recounting Smiley's professional relationship with Maya Angelou.
  • Before You Judge Me: The Triumph and Tragedy of Michael Jackson's Last Days (June 7, 2016, with David Ritz), analyzing Jackson's final months through associates' accounts.
Earlier works include Hard Left: Straight Talk about the Wrongs of the Right (1996), a political critique, and Doing What's Right (2000), on . Smiley also founded the SmileyBooks imprint in 2008, extending his influence in African American voices.

Additional Public Engagements

Guest Appearances and Reality Television

Smiley has made guest appearances on several prominent television programs, often discussing , social issues, and current events. He has appeared multiple times as a panelist on HBO's , including the episode aired on November 12, 2021, alongside venture capitalist and Representative , where topics included political strategy and public discourse. Earlier, he featured on the show in 2012 with guests such as and , contributing to discussions on . Additionally, Smiley has been a recurring guest on , engaging in in-depth interviews on public affairs. In the realm of reality television, Smiley competed on the 19th season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars, which premiered on September 15, 2014. Paired with professional dancer Sharna Burgess, the duo performed a foxtrot to Marvin Gaye's "Pride & Joy" in week 1, receiving scores of 7, 7, 8, and 7 for a total of 29 out of 40. In week 2, they executed a cha-cha to Earth, Wind & Fire's "Boogie Wonderland" and a disco routine, earning 28 points, but were eliminated after landing in the bottom two alongside Michael Waltrip. Smiley later described the experience as more demanding than anticipated, highlighting the physical and performative challenges. Tavis Smiley has appeared in cameo roles depicting media personalities akin to his broadcasting career. In the animated satirical series The Boondocks, he provided the voice for his own likeness in the episode "," which originally aired on January 21, 2008, portraying a talk show host engaging with a storyline involving a celebrity and media sensationalism. In the supernatural horror film Sinister (2012), directed by , Smiley portrayed a television news anchor conducting an interview with the protagonist, a true-crime author played by , discussing the success of the character's book Kentucky Blood. The scene underscores themes of media attention on sensational crime stories within the film's narrative. These appearances represent Smiley's limited forays into fictional entertainment, typically leveraging his real-life interviewer persona rather than originating new characters. No prominent parodies or non-cameo references to Smiley in literature, music, or other fictional works have been documented.

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  125. https://charlierose.com/guests/4383
  126. https://dancingwiththestars.fandom.com/wiki/Tavis_Smiley
  127. https://abc7.com/post/tavis-smiley-eliminated-from-dancing-with-the-stars/321661/
  128. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvxZK52rCa4
  129. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1270335/characters/nm0806983
  130. https://boondocks.fandom.com/wiki/The_Hunger_Strike
  131. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1922777/characters/nm0806983
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