Stephen A. Smith apologizes to Asian community after online backlash over comments about 'foreign player that doesn't speak English'



ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith apologized to the Asian community Monday after he criticized Major League Baseball's leading home run hitter for speaking through the use of an interpreter.

"Let me apologize right now. As I'm watching things unfold, let me say that I never intended to offend ANY COMMUNITY, particularly the Asian Community — and especially SHOHEI Ohtani, himself," read the statement.

Smith had criticized Ohtani, who plays for the Los Angeles Angels and leads the majors with 33 home runs, for not speaking English and choosing his native Japanese instead.

"The fact that you got a foreign player that doesn't speak English, believe it or not, I think contributes to harming the game to some degree, when that's your box office appeal," Smith said Monday during his show "First Take."

"It needs to be somebody like Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, those guys. And unfortunately at this point in time, that's not the case," he added.

"When you talk about an audience gravitating to the tube, or to the ballpark, to actually watch you, I don't think it helps that the No. 1 face is a dude that needs an interpreter so you can understand what the hell he's saying, in this country," Smith continued.

Smith faced immediate blowback online, where many called his statement racist and xenophobic. He responded by offering a video on Twitter to clarify his comments.

On my earlier comments about Ohtani https://t.co/FM0vnDDXBB

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) 1626116553.0

"In the United States, all I was saying is that when you're a superstar if you can speak the English language, then guess what, that's gonna be easier, less challenging, to promote the sport. That's all I was saying about anybody," Smith said in the video.

That apparently was not enough for his critics because he offered the second statement with a full apology hours later.

"As an African American, keenly aware of the damage stereotyping has done to many in this country, it should've elevated my sensitivities even more. Based on my words, I failed in that regard and that's on me, and me alone!" he continued.

"In this day and age, with all the violence being perpetrated against the Asian Community, my comments — albeit unintentional — were clearly insensitive and regrettable. I'm sincerely sorry for any angst I've caused with my comments," Smith said.

Ohtani will be the American League's starting pitcher in MLB's annual All-Star Game Tuesday night at Coors Field in Denver.

Here's more about the online furor against Smith:

Stephen A. Smith racist comment about Shohei Ohtani | New York Postwww.youtube.com

Female ESPN reporter reveals network star Stephen A. Smith 'hurt' her when he ... didn't tag her in a tweet



Megan Olivi covers one of the most brutal sports in the world for ESPN.

The UFC is the world of the strong, powerful, and tough.

The world of UFC media coverage apparently does not have nearly the same sort of standards if the latest outrage de jour from the cable sport network's sole female member of its UFC coverage team is any indication.

What happened?

In late March, the New York Post pointed out, ESPN star Stephen A. Smith bragged on Twitter about the network's UFC coverage team, which he called the "best @ufc coverage in the world." In the tweet he tagged Daniel Cormier, Joe Rogan, Jon Anik, Chael Sonnen, and a number of other reporters and analysts.

But he did not tag Olivi.

So she replied, "Ummm hey there - you're forgetting someone" and included a smiling emoji.

But Smith didn't respond.

@stephenasmith @ufc @dc_mma @joerogan @Jon_Anik @ChaelSonnen @bisping @michaeleaves @bokamotoESPN Ummm hey there -… https://t.co/pCz6xh0uKf

— Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) 1616911779.0

Fast-forward one month: Last weekend, during a Friday presser before Saturday's UFC 261, a reporter brought up the Smith slight to Olivi..

Olivi declared that she was "genuinely ... hurt" when Smith did not tag her in the tweet and that the whole ordeal was a "tough" thing for her to go through.

"I don't love social media in general, but then to play such a big role in terms of pre- and post-fight interviews — like, I'm the one on site doing them — and then to do all the hits on the broadcast and be a part of this team and be literally the only women on the pay-per-view team," she began. "There's not a female desk host, there's no one on the pre- or post-show. It's literally just me, and I've worked to be here.

"I wasn't handed this," Olivi continued. "This has been a very long journey, as I'm sure people who have seen me 10 years ago, can attest to. And I've done everything the right way to get here, and to not get the acknowledgement as my male colleagues got, I genuinely was so hurt."

Olivi said that such treatment is "something the women in this room have dealt with before and will have to continue to deal with."

Though she said this problem is one that Smith it going to have to work himself, she did say she doesn't "think he did it on purpose."

"I don't think there was any malintent," Olivi told reporters. "I don't think he was trying to be rude by any means — I just think it didn't really didn't matter to him."

Megan Olivi was 'genuinely so hurt' by Stephen A. Smith's tweet | UFC 261youtu.be

The Post noted that, though Smith has not commented on the supposed controversy, he did include Olivi in a tweet two days later giving "props once again" his network's UFC coverage team.

And btw......props once again to ESPN’s Until UFC team. @Jon_Anik,@dc_mma, @joerogan, @MeganOlivi, @arielhelwani,… https://t.co/ATLmMOEZlj

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) 1619325155.0

'Full of crap': Charles Barkley torches ESPN's Stephen Smith for injecting race into hiring of white coach



NBA legend Charles Barkley unloaded on ESPN analyst Stephen Smith this week for suggesting that "white privilege" was responsible for the Brooklyn Nets hiring a white man as their new head coach.

The Brooklyn Nets announced on Wednesday that Steve Nash — a Hall of Fame player in his own right — would become the newest head coach to lead the Nets.

Smith responded by saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, there's no way around this. This is white privilege. This does not happen for a Black man."

What did Barkley say?

"I was very disappointed with some of the guys on television today talking about 'white privilege,' very disappointed," Barkley said Thursday.

"They're like, 'Well, this doesn't happen to black guys.' I'm like, 'It happened to Doc Rivers, it happened to Jason Kidd, it happened to Derek Fisher.' So, I was really disappointed," he continued. "When you have a responsibility, especially when you have to talk about something serious like race, you can't be full of crap. You've got to be honest and fair."

Barkley went on to agree that both professional and college athletics need more black head coaches, but again said that Nash's hiring was not the time to scream "white privilege."

"Steve Nash is a great player and a good dude. But I was so disappointed in some of these guys. I was like, 'Dude, black guys have done this before.' Now, do we need more black coaches in the NBA? Yes. Do we need more black coaches in college football? Yes. Do we need more black coaches in pro football. Yes. But this was the right time to say it today," Barkley said.

Charles Barkley sounds off on @stephenasmith saying Steve Nash got Nets job because of white privilege. #12Sports https://t.co/HlkG3tPfOO
— Cameron Cox (@Cameron Cox)1599193709.0

Smith was even called out by fellow ESPN analyst Jay Williams.

"Come on SA. Steve Nash being chosen over Mark Jackson/Ty Lue is not 'White Privilege'.. 2 superstar black athletes ultimately made the decision & we know who they are and what they are about," Williams said.

How did Smith respond?

The ESPN analyst doubled down.

"I have a message to those who feel that I was wrong, that I need to apologize, that I don't know what I'm talking about, etc., etc. I don't give a d**n what y'all feel. Y'all can all kick rocks. I don't give a d**n. I'm not budging from my position one inch," Smith said.

"Black folks with no resume getting a job like that?" Smith continued. "I have been covering the NBA for 25 years… brothers do not get those opportunities."

Stephen A. Smith isn't budging on his stance about the Nets hiring Steve Nash | First Take www.youtube.com