Mina Kimes Calls Papaya’s Solitaire Promo a ‘Colossal’ Mistake as Stephen A. Smith’s Deal Draws Heat

ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes publicly distanced herself from a paid promotion for Solitaire Cash, a mobile game from Papaya (formerly Papaya Gaming), calling her participation a “colossal” mistake and saying she hadn’t vetted the deal. She also said she hasn’t been paid and would donate any money if it arrives. The mea culpa follows Papaya’s Nov. 3 announcement that Stephen A. Smith is the official ambassador for the first-ever World Solitaire Championship, and a recent federal court opinion that said it was “undisputed” Papaya used bots—including “tailored bots”—in tournaments, as a false‑advertising case proceeds to trial. Former ESPN host Michelle Beadle has piled on, saying she’s “praying for the downfall” of Smith over the endorsement. ^[1]

What’s new today (Nov. 9)

Kimes reiterates regret and clarifies compensation. After deleting her promo post, Kimes said she “didn’t spend any time looking into” the partnership and is “deeply embarrassed.” She added on Bluesky that she hasn’t been paid and would give away any payment if it comes. ^[2]
ESPN talent fallout continues. Kimes was one of several ESPN personalities (including Dan Orlovsky and Laura Rutledge) who posted a #BeatStephen challenge tied to Smith’s Solitaire campaign; some posts were later deleted. ESPN declined to comment on whether others would follow Kimes in backing away. ^[3]

How we got here: The timeline

Nov. 3: Papaya announces Stephen A. Smith as official ambassador for the inaugural World Solitaire Championship, with finals slated for February 2026 in Miami. The company frames the event as a skill‑based global competition; Smith appears in a polished AI‑assisted campaign. ^[4]
Nov. 5–6: Front Office Sports reports on a federal false‑advertising lawsuit between competitor Skillz and Papaya. In an Oct. 27 opinion, a federal judge in New York denied Papaya’s motion for summary judgment and wrote that it was “undisputed” Papaya used “tailored bots to control the outcomes of tournaments,” with the case moving toward trial. (Papaya disputes Skillz’s claims and vows to prove them false at trial.) ^[5]
Nov. 8–9: Kimes posts a public mea culpa, calling her participation a “colossal” mistake, and says she’ll donate any payment if it ever arrives. ^[6]

The legal backdrop, in plain English

A federal judge’s Oct. 27 opinion summarizes evidence that from 2019 to at least November 2023, Papaya used both liquidity bots (to fill tournaments) and “tailored bots” (to deliver predetermined outcomes). The court said: “It is undisputed that Papaya used tailored bots to control the outcomes of tournaments.” The ruling does not decide the case; it sends Skillz’s claims to a jury. Papaya says it looks forward to proving the accusations are “false and unjustified.” ^[7]

Why this matters for endorsements: If a company’s marketing is under legal scrutiny, personalities promoting its products can face reputational risk—especially in sports media, where betting and real‑money gaming are closely watched.

The Smith endorsement that lit the fuse

Papaya’s press release crowned Smith as the face of the World Solitaire Championship, building off his viral Finals moment when he was spotted playing solitaire. The campaign includes an AI‑assisted ad and a social push amplified by ESPN personalities. The press release positions Solitaire Cash and Papaya’s titles as “skill‑based” experiences for adults, touting the brand’s scale (60M+ downloads) and competitive tournaments. ^[8]

Reactions from media and fans

Michelle Beadle blasts Smith. The former ESPN host criticized Smith over the Solitaire ambassadorship, saying on her Beadle and Decker podcast she’s “praying for the downfall,” calling the promotion “gross” and questioning principles. Her remarks have been aggregated across the sports‑media ecosystem. ^[9]
Broader backlash online. Fans and media blogs have scrutinized ESPN figures who shared the #BeatStephen challenge, noting the lawsuit context and the use of AI‑style ad creative. (Some posts included #ad disclosures.) ^[10]

What Mina Kimes actually said

Kimes told followers she failed to vet the deal and called it a “colossal f‑‑‑‑‑‑”—a direct acknowledgment of error. On Bluesky, she added she hasn’t been paid and would donate any payment that might come. These statements landed well with many fans who value on‑the‑record accountability. ^[11]

What Papaya says

In a statement to outlets covering the suit, Papaya said it will “vigorously” prove at trial that Skillz’s accusations are “false and unjustified.” The company has also filed counterclaims, arguing the litigation reflects a competitor’s broader strategy amidst business challenges. ^[12]

What’s next

For the lawsuit: The case proceeds, with a jury to weigh whether Papaya’s past marketing was false or deceptive; the judge’s opinion keeps both the federal and New York state claims alive. ^[13]
For ESPN talent: Watch to see whether other personalities issue clarifications or remove posts, and whether the network offers guidance about future real‑money gaming endorsements. ^[14]
For the event: Papaya’s World Solitaire Championship is still scheduled for February 2026 in Miami, with Smith as ambassador unless parties change course. ^[15]

Key questions, answered

Did a court “find” Papaya guilty?
No. The Oct. 27 opinion denied Papaya’s bid for summary judgment and included strong language about “undisputed” bot usage, but the case now goes to a jury. There is no final judgment on Skillz’s claims. ^[16]

Did Kimes get paid?
Kimes says she hasn’t been paid a dime and that she’ll donate any money if it does arrive. ^[17]

Who else promoted the campaign?
Posts tied to the #BeatStephen challenge came from several ESPN figures, including Dan Orlovsky and Laura Rutledge; some posts were deleted amid backlash. ^[18]

What exactly is the Smith deal?
He’s official ambassador for the World Solitaire Championship, part of a campaign promoting Solitaire Cash ahead of the Miami finals in Feb. 2026. ^[19]

Editorial analysis: Three lessons for sports‑media endorsements

Do the diligence—even for “harmless” apps. The line between casual games and real‑money competitions is blurry; if litigation exists, the due‑diligence bar is higher. Kimes’s quick reversal shows audiences value transparency, but the reputational cost is real. ^[20]
AI‑driven ads magnify scrutiny. The glitzy, generative‑AI creative around Smith’s campaign may boost virality—but when optics are bad, virality just spreads backlash faster. ^[21]
Platforms + personalities = shared risk. When multiple colleagues amplify a partner facing legal headwinds, the story can engulf a whole brand (and rival media personalities will weaponize it). ^[22]

Sources and further reading

Front Office Sports — Mina Kimes calls the promo a “colossal” mistake; context on ESPN talent posts and ESPN’s no‑comment. ^[23]
Front Office Sports — Deep dive on the Skillz v. Papaya litigation and ESPN talent’s involvement; Papaya’s response. ^[24]
PR Newswire — Papaya names Stephen A. Smith ambassador for the World Solitaire Championship; Feb. 2026 Miami finals. ^[25]
U.S. District Court (S.D.N.Y.) opinion (DocumentCloud PDF) — Summary‑judgment ruling; “undisputed” tailored‑bot usage; case proceeds. ^[26]
Barrett Media / Awful Announcing — Michelle Beadle’s “praying for the downfall” criticism and related commentary. ^[27]

Mina Kimes APOLOGIZES After Promoting ‘Sketchy’ Solitaire App—Fans STUNNED by ESPN Fallout

Watch this video on YouTube.

References

Mina Kimes Calls Papaya’s Solitaire Promo a ‘Colossal’ Mistake as Stephen A. Smith’s Deal Draws Heat — What Changed Today (Nov. 9, 2025)