According to reports, Smith no longer wanted to share the stage with Kellerman and it was Smith who demanded that Max be thrown off the show:
https://twitter.com/AndrewMarchand/status/1430297090731692032?s=20 If this is true then this speaks volumes of just how much power Smith holds in his hands.Since he has become a giant in the industry, his moves reverberate. Smith has wanted Kellerman off “First Take” for years. Though it wasn’t personal, according to sources, Kellerman has a “smartest guy in the room” attitude, and Smith wanted more of a debating challenger. And ultimately, he wanted it to be him versus the world.