ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith denies using racial slur while talking about Kobe Bryant, tape of show says otherwise
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Stephen A. Smith’s mouth placed him in the eye of controversy Thursday, but the ESPN yakker denied dropping the N-word while discussing Kobe Bryant on “First Take.”
On the show, Smith sarcastically pooh-poohed the idea that Bryant would miss the Lakers’ opener because of a foot injury.
Listening to a replay of SAS’ commentary provides evidence that he voiced the slur.
“Opening night, Kobe Bryant is going to miss it because my foot is sprained? Are you crazy? (N-word) please,” Smith said.
Smith came back on the show later, offering a vehement denial that he uttered the racial slur. He chalked it up to being from New York and speaking “very, very fastly.”
“I did not say the things reported that I said,” Smith said “Hopefully I will not have to address this again... If I were to have said anything like that I would have instantly issued an apology.”
Stephen A. Smith’s mouth placed him in the eye of controversy Thursday, but the ESPN yakker denied dropping the N-word while discussing Kobe Bryant on “First Take.”
On the show, Smith sarcastically pooh-poohed the idea that Bryant would miss the Lakers’ opener because of a foot injury.
Listening to a replay of SAS’ commentary provides evidence that he voiced the slur.
“Opening night, Kobe Bryant is going to miss it because my foot is sprained? Are you crazy? (N-word) please,” Smith said.
Smith came back on the show later, offering a vehement denial that he uttered the racial slur. He chalked it up to being from New York and speaking “very, very fastly.”
“I did not say the things reported that I said,” Smith said “Hopefully I will not have to address this again... If I were to have said anything like that I would have instantly issued an apology.”
