Stephen A. Smith said something dumb on First Take about victims of domestic abuse.
Stephen A. Smith, please log off your computer
His colleague Michelle Beadle called him out on this, as she should.
So I was just forced to watch this morning's First Take. A) I'll never feel clean again B) I'm now aware that I can provoke my own beating.
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) July 25, 2014 Next, Smith tried to correct the record on Twitter. This is never a good idea.
This will be a long tweeted message, folks. So please stay with me and let me finish my complete thought before responding...b/c i'm ANNOYED
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 In discussing the Ray Rice ruling earlier today on @ESPN_FirstTake, me and @RealSkipBayless ventured into discussing domestic violence.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 Upon hearing what I had to say, although admitting I could've been more articulate on the matter, let me be clear: I don't understand how on
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 earth someone could interpret that I somehow was saying women are to blame for domestic violence. And when I saw @MichelleDBeadle -- a
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 colleague I have profound respect for -- tweet what she tweeted, enough is enough. Something needs to be said right now. REPEATEDLY i said:
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 There is absolutely no excuse to put your hands on a women. REPEATEDLY, I said dudes who do that need to be dealt with. REPEATEDLY, I echoed
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 when confronted by it in the past -- when someone was stupid enough to touch a loved one of this man, raised by 4 older sisters, a mom and
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 numerous female relatives and loved ones, that man was dealt with. From that point, I simply asked: now what about the other side.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 If a man is pathetic and stupid enough to put his hands on a woman -- which I have NEVER DONE, btw -- of course he needs to pay the price.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 Who on earth is denying that? But what about addressing women on how they can help prevent the obvious wrong being done upon them?
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 In no way was I accusing a women of being wrong. I was simply saying what that preventive measures always need to be addressed because
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 there's only but so much that can be done after the fact....once the damage is already done. Nothing more. My apologies to @MichelleDBeadle
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 And any woman out there who misconstrued what I said. I have always -- and will always -- find violence against a women every bit as
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 horrific as women, themselves, find it. Always have. Always will, which my personal behavior exemplifies. I'll strive to be more articulate
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 in the future. But be clear, I wasn't BLAMING women for anything. I was simply saying to take all things into consideration for preventative
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 purposes. Period.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2014 Michelle Beadle gets the final word.
In a week in which LGBT & domestic abuse issues have been primarily discussed in one-sided formats, I stand by my words. #communicatebetter
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) July 25, 2014 See More:
