An ESPN host who suggested Friday that women should try not to “provoke” domestic violence only seemed to make matters worse by later insisting on Twitter that he wasn’t “blaming” women for anything.
Provocative “First Take” panelist Stephen A. Smith was discussing the National Football League’s decision to suspend Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for two games, after he was indicted for allegedly physically assaulting his then-fiancee. The suspension was widely panned as lenient.
Smith said during his ESPN appearance that a man has “no business” putting his hands on a woman, but then went on to say that he was raised by women and encouraged the female members of his family to “make sure we don’t do anything to provoke wrong actions.”
“I think that just talking about what guys shouldn’t do, we got to also make sure that you can do your part to do whatever you can do to try to make sure it doesn’t happen … but at the same time, we also have to make sure that we learn as much as we can about elements of provocation,” he added. “Not that there’s real provocation, but the elements of provocation, you got to make sure that you address them. Because we’ve got to do is do what we can to try to prevent the situation from happening in any way. And I don’t think that’s broached enough, is all I’m saying.”
Smith’s ESPN colleague Michelle Beadle did not take kindly to that analysis.
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
Beadle’s outrage prompted Smith to address his comments with a lengthy explanation on Twitter. In a curious apology, he said he was sorry to any woman who “misconstrued” his meaning and essentially rehashed his original argument.
“I wasn’t BLAMING women for anything,” he wrote. “I was simply saying to take all things into consideration for preventative purposes. Period.”
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
Watch Smith’s original comments below:
“I’m not saying it’s their fault, it’s just sometimes they’re asking for it.”
Once you started digging a hole, you really need to stop.
“I don’t condone cross-burnings and other violence by the KKK,” said Billy Joe Bob McToothless, “but them nigras should try not to provoke it either by being too uppity or not showing proper deference to good Christian white folk.”
Now do you get it, Mr. Smith?
[black screen…'90s TV serious piano music…] Today on First Take, a Very Special Episode…
He’s got a point.
Listen, I’m not misogynist or anything, but women do have a tendency to force us men into sexually assaulting them by wearing skimpy outfits or making certain perceived come-ons (like looking in our general direction).
Listen, I’m not defending rape, I’m just saying there’s a difference between legitimate rape and illegitimate rape. And besides, if a woman is raped, her body has a way of shutting that whole thing down.
So no harm no foul.