Stephen A. Smith has built his reputation on passionate commentary, but his latest remarks were aimed at a subject outside of sports.
On Thursday, the ESPN personality used his podcast to denounce those publicly celebrating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was gunned down during an event at Utah Valley University this week.
“I don’t care what his political beliefs were. I don’t care what he felt,” Smith said. “That he’s dead at the age of 31. That his wife is a widow. That his children are fatherless because his ideas and his beliefs differed from somebody else, apparently. And then I’m going online, and I’m seeing people celebrating it! Shame! Shame on you!”
A call for respect and justice
Smith pointed to the New York Yankees as an example of how to respond respectfully. Before Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers, the team held a moment of silence and displayed Kirk‘s photo on the scoreboard.
“Props to the New York Yankees organization last night for having a moment of silence,” Smith said. “We’re not supposed to condone stuff like this. We’re not supposed to say it’s OK. I don’t give a damn who you are, Black, White or anything in between! I hope the FBI and law enforcement catch this individual and do what needs to be done with him.”
Backlash over inflammatory reactions
Smith’s comments came as a wave of fallout hit several public figures who made controversial remarks following Kirk’s killing.
Chelsea Wolfe, a BMX rider who served as an alternate for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics, drew widespread criticism after posting celebratory messages on Instagram. MSNBC also parted ways with political analyst Matthew Dowd after he suggested Kirk‘s “hateful rhetoric” had contributed to his own death.
In Charlotte, the Carolina Panthers dismissed Charlie Rock, a staff member in the team’s communications department, after social media posts linked to him questioned why people were upset by the assassination and included a Wu-Tang Clan track, Protect Ya Neck.
“The views expressed by our employees are their own and do not represent those of the Carolina Panthers,” the franchise said in a statement. “We do not condone violence of any kind. We are taking this matter very seriously and have accordingly addressed it with the individual.”
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