In a recent interview with Mediaite editor-in-chief Aidan McLaughlin, Stephen A. Smith discussed his career, sports, politics, and criticism of Tucker Carlson’s commentary on the January 6th riot.
Smith, who hosts ESPN’s “First Take” and produces the “Know Mercy” podcast, as well as being the author of the New York Times-bestselling memoir Straight Shooter, expressed his frustration with Carlson’s attempt to paint the riot as a peaceful protest, stating that it left him “really, really pissed off.” Smith argued that Carlson’s comments insulted the intelligence of those who witnessed the events of that day and undermined the seriousness of the violence.
He expressed frustration with attempts to manipulate the truth by presenting a distorted picture of what happened on national television. He likened it to being insulted and told it’s raining when someone spits in your face. He criticized the use of footage showing peaceful protesters and tried to downplay the violent acts of the mob, stating that it creates a sense of distrust toward those who engage in such tactics.
“If you go into a bank and you rob the bank. And you race out of the damn bank and jump into my car, and I’m driving the getaway car. Am I not complicit? I believe I am. For Tucker Carlson to go on national TV and highlight how everyone wasn’t violent. The fact is, they followed the people in,” he said.
Despite his criticism of Carlson and his affiliation with Fox News, Smith maintained good relationships with Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Mark Levin, whom he met through a mutual love of sports. Although Smith disagrees with many of their opinions, he said that he has never viewed them as racist in how the Black community views some on the right.
“Say anything you want but to sit up there and to show us the video of peaceful protesters… to sit up there and say, ‘Well, not every single person was violent,'” Smith explained. “There’s stuff like that that makes you sit up there and say, ‘See, we can’t trust none of their asses because of stuff like that.'”
Smith clarified that this would not affect his friendships with Hannity and Levin.
