Stephen A. Smith is officially firing back. The sports commentator made good on his word to address the National Association of Black Journalists after they handed him a “thumbs down” award at their gala this past weekend—and he didn’t hold anything back.
In his official response, Smith called the moment the “lowest” insult he’s ever received and insisting the move was purely political. Taking to his YouTube platform just days after the ceremony in Atlanta, Smith slammed the organization for the “unfair” honor while promising he would still continue to support the group’s members and mission.
He also dropped a bombshell revelation: He had extended an invitation to NABJ president Errin Haines to come on his show and hash it out, but according to Smith, she declined a public discussion in favor of a private one.
Addressing the award directly, Smith said, “Saturday night, I saw the president of the organization, Errin Haines, go up on stage and give me a thumbs down award for disparaging black women. I received a lot of insults in my day. That might be the lowest.”
He went on to blast the organization for crossing a line, stating, “It is BS. I get a lot of people [that] want to pile on and they want to jump on it because you have your own individual feelings about me. I’m here to tell you, y’all are entitled to that. Not the NABJ. You’re not entitled to that.”
Smith also claimed the award was a calculated political attack. “This ain’t about disparaging women. This is about people who’ve politicized everything, looking for an excuse to come at me, because you don’t like what I have to say. I’m gonna put it out there. This is about a bunch of liberals, a bunch of Democrats coming for me. Which is why I should be flattered. Cause you hear the footsteps, don’t you? You know, at any given moment, I can decide to come at it. I can decide to run. Cause with the stuff that I’m seeing, it wouldn’t be hard to win.”
When it came to Haines declining his invite, Smith was clearly frustrated. “I reached out last night and asked the president of the NABJ to come on this show. To have a conversation with me about her assertions that she articulated on that stage. Do you know what she said to me? She’d rather have a private, off-the-air conversation first. Oh, really? So you can go on a public platform, and denigrate me. Make these accusations against me without calling. But when I challenge you to come on here face to face and have a conversation with me, now we want a private conversation before? Nah, I will never speak to her because the deed is done.”
Despite the drama, Smith insisted he isn’t walking away from the organization entirely. “Whether you deserve it or not, I will be right there continuously to help the organization. To help all my boys associated with the organization. Especially the sports task force. I will never abandon my brothers… I’m here. I’ll never abandon the organization. But I won’t forget the few board members and what you tried to do. It was wrong, totally wrong. I will strive to do better. Will you?”