ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith got himself into some hot water Friday when he seemed to suggest that victims of domestic violence provoke their attacks. Smith’s remarks were prompted during a discussion of Balitmore Ravens star Ray Rice, who was suspended by the NFL for allegedly assaulted his fiancee in February.
“We keep talking about the guys. We know you have no business putting your hands on a woman. I don’t know how many times I got to reiterate that,” he told his “First Take” co-host Skip Bayless. “But at the same time, we also have to make sure that we learn as much as we can about elements of provocation.”
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“Not that there’s real provocation, but the elements of provocation, you got to make sure that you address them, because we’ve got to do is do what we can to try to prevent the situation from happening in any way. ”
Smith’s commentary was longwinded and sometimes confusing, but critics say he was instructing potential victims not to provoke their potential attackers.
His ESPN colleague Michelle Beadle took him to task on Twitter immediately:
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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
I’m thinking about wearing a miniskirt this weekend…I’d hate to think what I’d be asking for by doing so @stephenasmith. #dontprovoke
– Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) July 25, 2014
Smith has since taken to Twitter to clarify his “First Take” comments and apologize to Beadle:
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
These developments come on the heels of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s announcement Thursday that Rice was facing a two-game suspension for violation of the NFL’s conduct policy.
The three-time Pro-Bowler was arrested in February on suspicion of domestic violence after after an alleged altercation with his then-fiancee, Janay Palmer. Surveillance footage acquired by TMZ shows the 27-year-old athlete dragging Palmer’s body out of an Atlantic City elevator. The two of them are now married.
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Many feel the league needed to be more severe with its punishment of Rice, especially considering other players have been suspended for more games after committing seemingly less egregious offenses, like testing positive for marijuana.
Ray rice only gets 2 games for punching his fiancé while guys are getting decked entire seasons for marijuana? Get it together NFL
– The Legal Blitz (@TheLegalBlitz) July 24, 2014
Josh Gordon facing a year-long suspension for smoking pot. Ray Rice gets two games for beating up his wife. Unreal.
– Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) July 24, 2014
Josh Gordon, a wide receiver who plays for the Cleveland Browns, is facing a one-year suspension after failing a drug test. He is expected to appeal the NFL’s decision.