ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes has publicly admitted to feeling “deeply embarrassed” for promoting a solitaire app that is now at the center of a legal controversy. The app, Solitaire Cash, is associated with Papaya Gaming, a company that faced a fraud lawsuit alleging it used in-house bots from 2019 to 2023. Kimes, who shared her regret on social media, expressed regret that she did not properly vet the company, calling her oversight a “colossal f—up.”
The controversy surrounding the app began when NFL analyst Stephen A. Smith became widely criticized after playing Solitaire Cash on his phone during the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. Smith, alongside Kimes and Dan Orlovsky, had previously promoted the app on social media, including X, without realizing the parent company was embroiled in legal issues. The app’s parent company, Papaya Gaming, had been accused of using bots to give an unfair advantage in head-to-head matches, a practice that allegedly continued until 2023.
According to reports from Poker Scout, Papaya Gaming initially defended itself by claiming it never deceived users about the use of bots. The company’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit was denied, and it has since dropped a factual dispute about its use of bots. Despite this, the case remains pending, with the company arguing that it never misrepresented its practices and that no harm was done to users. However, the controversy has cast a shadow over the app’s reputation and credibility.
Kimes’s public apology was a direct response to the backlash she faced for her role in promoting the app. She clarified that she did not receive any payment from the company and, if she did, she would give the money away. Her admission has raised questions about the due diligence expected of public figures when endorsing products or services, particularly when those products are associated with legal or ethical concerns. The incident underscores the potential for even minor promotional efforts to attract significant public scrutiny when tied to broader controversies.