Stephen A. Smith issued an apology for his recent remarks about Black people supporting Donald Trump.
“I’m fully aware that I have been in the news the last few days. Paraded all over social media as well after comments I made on Fox News’ Hannity last week. A lot of folks in Black America seem pretty pissed at me right now,” he said in his video apology. “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.”
Let me explain…one last time pic.twitter.com/6KQ77ALgPk
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 22, 2024
During his appearance on Sean Hannity’s show, Smith was asked about Black America’s relationship with Trump. He echoed Trump’s remarks that Black people felt they could relate to the former commander-in-chief after he was indicted four times on several charges, including alleged business fraud to federal election interference charges.
“As much as people may have been abhorred by Donald Trump’s statement weeks ago talking about how Black folks, 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,” Smith told Hannity.
“When you see the law, law enforcement, the court system, and everything else being exercised against him, it is something that Black folks throughout this nation can relate to with some of our historic, iconic figures. We’ve seen that happen throughout society.”
Smith’s comments led to the First Take host being heavily criticized online.
Relatable!?! Show of hands: Anyone in your Black family have 88 felony charges pending, filed for bankruptcy 6x, made an attempt to overthrow a presidential election and our democracy, and still have the ability to fall asleep in court and dream of being POTUS? #BLASPHEMOUS https://t.co/xtG40vpTQ2
— NAACP (@NAACP) April 19, 2024
Following the backlash, sports and political commentator Keith Olbermann called for ESPN to either “silence” or “fire” Smith.
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 not officially endorsed Trump and did not state that he would be voting for Trump in November.
