Stephen A. Smith offers apology for domestic violence remarks on ESPN's 'First ...
With a weekend to think about his careless remarks about domestic violence, Stephen A. Smith appeared on ESPN's 'First Take' Monday morning and offered an apology for his comments on the issue made on last Friday's show.
'On Friday, speaking right here on 'First Take' on the subject of domestic violence, I made what can only amount to the most egregious error of my career,' Smith said in a low-key taped segment before the show shifted over to its typical debate format. 'My words came across that it is somehow a woman's fault. This was not my intent. It is not what I was trying to say.'
Smith came under fire last week when he cautioned women against doing 'anything to provoke wrong actions' while discussing Ray Rice's two game suspension for domestic violence. He later tried to extinguish the issue on Twitter, but only wound up fanning the flames by writing, 'What about addressing women on how they can help prevent the obvious wrong being done upon them.'
On Monday, Smith addressed the topic for fewer than two minutes, offering an apology while only making a passing reference to the 'provoke' remark that led to the controversy.
'To say what I actually said was foolish is an understatement. To say I was wrong is obvious. To apologize - to say I'm sorry - doesn't do the matter it's proper justice, to be quite honest,' Smith said. 'But I do sincerely apologize.'
Smith said he has 'dealt with the matter' of domestic violence within his own family and apologized to his mother and sisters for the way he represented himself. 'You all deserved ... a better man last Friday sitting on this very set, in this very chair.'
ESPN echoed Smith's remarks, issuing its own statement, saying, 'We will continue to have constructive dialogue on this important topic. Stephen's comments last Friday do not reflect our company's point of view. As his apology demonstrates, he recognizes his mistakes and has a deeper appreciation of our company values.'
When Smith wrapped up, ESPN allowed the show's host, Cari Champion to comment on Smith's apology and offer her opinion on the NFL's handling of Rice's suspension. 'The NFL missed, in my opinion, a huge opportunity. An opportunity to say, We will not stand for domestic violence,' she said. 'Two games is not enough. Not enough for me.'
The two would not debate the issue, as is the show's custom. That format was reserved for Smith and his counterpart, Skip Bayless, who opened the show with a segment on LeBron James.
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