Stephen A. Smith Goes on Rant Explaining Away His Domestic Violence Comments
Someone get that iPhone out of Stephen A. Smith‘s hands: After the ESPN anchor said some pretty terrible comments about who bears responsibility for domestic abuse, his female colleagues weren’t having any of it. “I was in an abusive relationship once. I’m aware that men & women can both be the abuser,” a very pissed Michelle Beadle tweeted. “To spread a message that we not ‘provoke’ is wrong. Violence isn’t the victim’s issue. It’s the abuser’s. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting. Walk. Away.”
And now, Stephen A. Smith is upset that the world thinks he’s blaming women for provoking their own abuse. So he took to Twitter to explain himself. Did he do it? Let’s find out:
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
So…no. No, he did not learn anything at all. Sigh.
Smith, sit down and listen: one does not “prevent” domestic abuse, in the same way one “prevents” the spread of germs by washing hands, or “prevents” a war by sending in Bill Clinton to negotiate between Israel and the PLO, or “prevents” LeBron James from scoring by putting up a strong defense. If you’re the type of person who feels the need to control their partner — to the point where violence is an easy way for you to achieve that end — you’re going to find any excuse to do so, no matter how diplomatic your partner may be. That is the abuser’s fault, 100%. Even you admitted that some men will just hit women it in your rant today. And yet you continue to ask them to “prevent” it.
We’re also surprised that no one is trying to stop him, either:
ESPN executives are trying to bust down the door of the room @stephenasmith is tweeting from right now.
— Randy (@randygdub) July 25, 2014
[Image via screenshot]
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This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.
