An ESPN commentator stunned viewers by publicly apologizing to a Texas lawmaker—here’s what really happened.NH
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is backpedaling after calling U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s rhetoric “for the streets”—while at the same time continuing to defend his remarks.
Smith took to a special edition of his SiriusXM “Straight Shooter” show on Wednesday to apologize for condemning Crockett’s approach to politics.
Earlier this week, the sports personality and pseudo-political pundit bashed the Texas congresswoman’s language, questioning how it serves the people in her district.
Crockett is known, particularly online, for her fierce clapbacks and vocally unwavering stances against the Trump administration.
Since then, while he’s defended the conversation he was attempting to have, he says he now understands that giving the Trump administration fodder–especially when talking about Black women–is not something he wants to feed into.
“I got it. I don’t like that at all,” Smith said. “I don’t want to be associated with nothing like that, and I apologize because I respect the hell out of Jasmine Crockett and what she has accomplished. I absolutely do. And I appreciate the fact that she feels compelled to fight the way she’s fought…” he added.
Smith’s criticism of Crocket sparked backlash and calls for Smith to be removed from his SiriusXM radio show and ESPN morning talk program “First Take.”
Smith acknowledged the outcry while arguing that his words were “misconstrued and misinterpreted.” He said it was “emphatically false” to say he was being “disrespectful or in any way misogynistic.”
Even still, the long-time commentator—whose recent brush with politics is garnering attention—noted that he understood people taking issue with his criticism of Crockett’s willingness to vocally spar and his seeming pass for Trump’s.
Smith did bash the president coming at Crockett, though, referring to Trump’s behavior as “disturbing.”
Chron contacted Crockett for comment but did not receive a response by publication.
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As for how Smith personally feels about Crockett, he lauded her alongside former First Lady Michelle Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. He said that if it were up to him, the Texas congresswoman should be running for U.S. Senator John Cornyn’s seat or for Texas Attorney General.
Smith doubled down on defending himself, saying the larger conversation he was trying to have was regarding whether politicians’ approaches work.
“The reason why I am bringing this up and the reason why I am attacking this subject is because it’s really not about Jasmine Crockett,” Smith concluded. “I was simply asking a question [about] what is working for you because I don’t want her to lose the prowess she has. I want her to continue to gain and alleviate.”
Speculation has swirled around Crockett regarding whether she will run in the Democratic primary for Cornyn’s seat. Earlier this week, the Texas lawmaker said she would “strongly consider” entering the contest.
Faith Bugenhagen is a trending news reporter for Chron, based in Houston writing about all things news, particularly, government and politics. Previously, she covered the Greater Houston area for the Houston Press. She has written extensively about suburban education, city, county and statewide government and politics.
