During a Friday morning segment on ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless where discussing the Ray Rice incident and suspension which ultimately got down to the issue of domestic violence. During the segment Smith started to ramble on about preventative measures that women could do — yeah that’s right — so they wouldn’t ultimately endure what Ray Rice’s wife did last February.
You can’t make this stuff up. It was on national television and here’s the clip below.
Obviously this probably didn’t sit well with women across the country, as it shouldn’t. It especially didn’t sit well with Smith’s ESPN counterpart Michelle Beadle who proceeded to bury him in a way that would make Bill Simmons blush.
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
I'm thinking about wearing a miniskirt this weekend…I'd hate to think what I'd be asking for by doing so @stephenasmith. #dontprovoke
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) July 25, 2014
I was in an abusive relationship once. I'm aware that men & women can both be the abuser. To spread a message that we not 'provoke' is wrong
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) July 25, 2014
Violence isn't the victim's issue. It's the abuser's. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting. Walk. Away.
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) July 25, 2014
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
After being decapitated via social media, Smith took to the platform to articulate himself better:
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
I guess I’m a little unsure what those preventative purposes are? Does this mean that a women can’t go out in public looking nice without the threat of being sexually harassed or assaulted by a male? Is Smith trying to say that even the good guys can be tempted by some flooze (as ridiculous as that sounds I know) walking down the street? Like Beadle said ‘violence isn’t the victim’s issue, it’s the abusers’ which is really the only way to summarize this totally asinine topic that Smith brought up. Which to be clear, Smith sounds like those people who say well ‘I’ve got plenty of black friends’ when trying to justify using the n-word.
h/t: The Big Lead
