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Stephen A. Smith continues to face backlash over his Donald Trump comments.
Last week, Smith went viral when he appeared on Fox News and defended Trump by saying there was some truth about Trump’s comments on how black americans can relate to his legal troubles.
“As much as people may have been abhorred by Donald Trump’s statement weeks ago, talking about how he’s hearing that Black folks find him relatable because of what he is going through is similar to what black Americans have gone through, he wasn’t lying, he was telling the truth.”
First of all, trump is GUILTY.
Second, he’s getting privileges Black people NEVER get for doing much less.
Third, he is in no way comparable to our iconic leaders.@stephenasmith, this is the most ignorant thing you’ve ever said and that’s saying a lot!pic.twitter.com/Dk0bpWIvrx
— Renee (@PettyLupone) April 20, 2024
Legendary SportsCenter anchor Keith Olbermann reacted to Smith’s comments by tweeting a rant calling on ESPN to either fire him or silence him for openly advocating for a Presidential candidate.
“So why is today’s ESPN letting Smith do it? Why is he campaigning for Trump on Fox News? ESPN must make him choose advocating for a despot or keeping his job saying nothing particularly relevant about sports – not both. And I’d insist on the same either/of if he were campaigning for Biden”
WHY ESPN MUST EITHER SILENCE OR FIRE STEPHEN A. SMITH: Its longstanding policy – no, you can't be a sportscaster on one station and an advocate for a presidential candidate on another station – is right. I know: I helped to author it because the day when you (or I) could straddle… pic.twitter.com/TKLrPCXmOH
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) April 23, 2024
Smith has since taken to Twitter to clarify his comments after receiving backlash from the online community.
“Quite a few folks were offended as my words were interpreted as associating support for Trump by the Black community with all the legal issues he’s facing. For that, I sincerely apologize. I’m stating right here for the record that I was taken out of context.”
“Anywhere I appear, no matter my subjectivity relating to what I feel, is still going to be based on facts being presented into the stratosphere. That is who I’ve always been. It is who I’ll always continue to be. But it’s never exercised with malice on my heart and certainly never to assault or harm the Black community, my community…Just because my intent was harmless, doesn’t mean my words will harm less, and I know that.”
Let me explain…one last time pic.twitter.com/6KQ77ALgPk
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 22, 2024