Stephen A. Smith said something dumb on First Take about victims of domestic abuse.
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
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