Fri Mar 21 23:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Barkley Calls Out Co-Host Smith for Bias During March Madness Coverage
**NEW YORK** – Charles Barkley ignited a viral moment during CBS’s March Madness coverage, clashing with co-host Kenny Smith over accusations of bias. The heated exchange occurred during the analysts’ bracket predictions. Smith picked his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, prompting Barkley to exclaim, “Are you serious? Y’all make fun of me for being unbiased!”
Smith defended his choice, stating he wasn’t lying about his bias. Barkley retorted, “We’re supposed to be unbiased. What are we, Fox News? This ain’t Fox News; we don’t have to repeat everything the idiots say every day.”
The tension didn’t end there. Later in the broadcast, Barkley unexpectedly cut a segment short, quipping, “She said, go to commercial,” referring to a producer’s instruction. Co-host Ernie Johnson jokingly commented on Barkley’s unusual adherence to a producer’s cue.
The lively exchange between Barkley and Smith added to the entertainment value of CBS’s March Madness coverage, which also featured analysts Clark Kellogg, and hosts Ernie Johnson, Adam Lefkoe, and Adam Zucker. The broadcast spanned multiple locations, including the CBS Broadcast Center in New York and TNT Sports Studios in Atlanta.
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