Stephen A. Smith, the outspoken and often inappropriate commentator and provocateur has set everyone ablaze with his comments after the shooting of Renee Good. The alarming incident has provoked the outrage of countless elected leaders and other influential Americans. It further calls into question Smith’s understanding of complicated social issues outside the arena. His comments sparked a firestorm of anger. His peers and public figures railed against him, calling for stricter accountability for the lies that flowed from his Twitter feed.
On a recent segment, Smith asserted that he was discussing the legality of the actions taken by law enforcement during the incident, saying, “I’m talking about legality when I’m talking about justification, nothing else.” He made no qualms about indicating that the laws of Jim Crow were legally enacted laws. He argued that we cannot lose sight of this legality when examining police behavior. Others have questioned the moral justification of such laws. Yet they have doubted his fortitude in order to process discussions like these, to lead on them.
Unfortunately, the backlash became more intense when Smith sought to walk back his initial statements. Critics said his page-long explanation just didn’t cut it. As renowned journalist and producer Soledad O’Brien noted, Smith has difficulty grappling with topics not related to sports. She points to this as the biggest shortcoming in his critique. Many other media figures echoed this sentiment. CNN anchor Don Lemon criticized Smith as a “disappointment” for his cavalier treatment of dangerous topics.
Keith Olbermann added his voice to the criticism, and thirded the call for Smith’s head, demanding Smith’s firing for what he said about the shooting. Chuck Modi criticized Smith for jumping into discussions without adequate knowledge or expertise, stating, “If you’re going to make that point, the next thing out of your mouth should be that that is a terrible law. And he didn’t say that.” Modi’s observation underscores the concern that Smith’s commentary may lack the depth necessary for such serious topics.
Steve Kerr and Doc Rivers, head coaches of the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks respectively, referred to Renee Good’s death as “murder,” further complicating the narrative around Smith’s remarks. Kerr expressed frustration over governmental responses to the incident, stating, “It’s shameful that the government can come out and lie about what happened when there’s video and witnesses who have all come out and disputed what the government is saying.” Comments like this one demonstrate a mounting frustration with the lack of accountability when it comes to law enforcement and these fatal encounters.
Smith’s comments drew quick and furious backlash from a wide array of folks who feel that Smith’s grasp on the issues is grossly misguided. O’Brien suggested that both Smith and Jason Whitlock might eventually acknowledge the weight of their words and actions in such discussions. This reflection on accountability highlights a broader concern regarding media figures who weigh in on critical social issues without fully grasping their complexities.