ESPN’s Mina Kimes Apologizes for Promoting Solitaire App Linked to Fraud Lawsuit

ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes apologized yesterday for advertising the mobile game Solitaire Cash, after its parent company, Papaya Gaming, was found to have defrauded customers in real-money games.

Kimes addressed the situation on social media, stating, “The truth is: I didn’t spend any time looking into the whole thing, and that’s 100% on me,” adding that she was “deeply embarrassed” she hadn’t vetted the app and called it a “colossal f–k-up.” She also indicated she hadn’t yet been paid for the endorsement, but would donate any future earnings. This controversy highlights the growing scrutiny of influencer marketing and the responsibility of public figures to thoroughly investigate the products they promote.

The lawsuit against Papaya Gaming alleges the company used bots in games intended for human players to manipulate wins and losses. Several other ESPN personalities, including Stephen A. Smith, Kendrick Perkins, and Dan Orlovsky, continue to feature content promoting the app on their social media pages. Former ESPN analyst Michelle Beadle publicly criticized Smith’s involvement, saying on the “Beadle and Decker” podcast, “It’s gross, man. You gotta have principles in this thing.” She further stated, “He made you look like fools for handing him a blank check in the first place.”

Smith’s promotion of Solitaire Cash followed a viral moment during the NBA Finals where he was seen playing the game on his phone while covering the event for ESPN. He subsequently posted an AI-generated advertisement referencing the incident. Concerns about the ethics of sports broadcasting and endorsements are increasingly common, as detailed by the Federal Trade Commission. You can find more information about Papaya Gaming on their website.

ESPN has not yet commented on whether it will address the endorsements internally, but the network is likely to review its policies regarding influencer marketing.