Stephen A. Smith Addresses Claims Of Pitting Black Women Against Each Other After Beyonce & Rihanna Comparison: “I Just Can’t Be A Fan Of Both And Prefer Beyoncé Over Rihanna? That’s A Crime?”
Stephen A. Smith has been receiving a big wave of criticism after he compared Beyoncé and Rihanna while talking about the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show.
As we previously reported, in an interview on Sherri Shepherd’s talk show, Sherri, Smith was asked if he was excited about Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime performance. “She’s spectacular,” he responded. However, while continuing he said: “There’s one thing she’s not…She ain’t Beyoncé.” He later added that he loves Rihanna “dearly” but that, “there’s Beyoncé and there’s everybody else.” Smith’s comments drew boos from the studio audience, and swiftly sparked a firestorm from Rihanna fans online. Now, Smith has since issued an apology to Rihanna but her loyal fans aren’t buying it.
While recently appearing on the @breakfastclubam, Smith addressed claims of always pitting Black women against each other. In response, he told the hosts… “I think that Beyoncé might be the greatest female performer of all time. That’s how I feel. I think Rihanna is fantastic. Now, you agree fine. You disagree fine. How we get to the point ‘why he got to pit two Black women against each other?’” Really? I just can’t be a fan of both but I prefer Beyonce over Rihanna? That’s a crime?”
Now, Co-host Charlamagne Tha God pointed out that Smith has a history of doing this. He mentioned the time Smith was accused of pitting basketball wives Ayesha Curry and Savanah James against each other. Guest-host LaLa Anthony, who was also married to Carmelo Anthony interjected to give a different perspective to help Smith understand why people think this way of him. Check out the clip below:
More On Stephen A. Smith’s Apology
Clearly Smith didn’t want anymore smoke with Rihanna’s Navy fanbase so he issued a video apology following his controversial comments. He said,
“I’m gonna own it. I know what y’all trying to do, but I’m gonna own it because I get paid to speak for a living, so I need to be more careful,” Smith said in a video posted to his Twitter account. “I want Rihanna to know, you’re a superstar, you’re sensational, you’re spectacular, you’re no joke and you are a worthy person to be doing the Super Bowl halftime show.”
Rihanna, for her part, hasn’t replied and most likely she won’t as she’s preparing for her highly anticipated Super Bowl Halftime show. Super Bowl LVII, is set to go down Sunday, February 12, 6:30 pm ET, Fox. While we wait, share your thoughts on this story in the comment box below!