NOTE: Stephen A. Smith has deleted his Twitter rant and has posted this message in its place. Luckily, you can still read the Tweets by simply scrolling down. However, because they are now deleted Tweets, the formatting is messed up. Thanks, Stephen A. Smith.
After making headlines for all the wrong reasons, Stephen A. Smith is taking to Twitter to defend himself. And we should all feel bad. Because, as he puts it, he is “ANNOYED.”
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, as far as I can tell, this is what has happened:
- Stephen A. Smith says that women shouldn’t provoke men into beating them.
- Stephen A. Smith blames us for misinterpreting his comments.
- Stephen A. Smith never addresses his comments of “provocation.”
- Stephen A. Smith makes it clear he has never put his hands on a woman.
- Stephen A. Smith apologies to Michelle Beadle and any women who “misconstrued” what he said.
- Stephen A. Smith clearly lets us know he isn’t blaming women for anything.
- Stephen A. Smith ends his Twitter rant with an emphatic “period.”
- UPDATE: Stephen A. Smith deletes his Tweets.
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