ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Says Women Shouldn’t ‘Provoke’ Men To Domestic Violence
The two-game suspension of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for domestic violence has provoked angry reaction from fans and commentators, but ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith wants to remind everyone that the ladies should be sure not to “do anything to provoke” violence from men. On Friday morning’s First Take, Smith said that while he agreed that Ray Rice’s suspension was too lenient, he also tells the female members of his family. “Let’s make sure we don’t do anything to provoke wrong actions.”
Smith went on to say, repeatedly, that there is never an excuse for domestic violence, but then seemed to create separate categories of domestic violence, saying that…READ MORE
Click here for reuse options!Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Tommy Christopher
Tommy Christopher is The Daily Banter's White House Correspondent and Political Analyst. He's been a political reporter and liberal commentator since 2007, and has covered the White House since the beginning of the Obama administration, first for PoliticsDaily, and then for Mediaite. Christopher is a frequent guest on a variety of television, radio, and online programs, and was the villain in the documentaries The Audacity of Democracy and Hating Breitbart. He's also That Guy Who Live-Tweeted His Own Heart Attack, and the only person to have ever received public apologies from both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
fantagor July 25th, 2014 at 15:04
He’s an idiot and paying for it mightily on Twitter. Read some of the hate tweets to Michelle Beadle, who called him out for spouting such nonsense. They are precious.
fantagor July 25th, 2014 at 15:04
He’s an idiot and paying for it mightily on Twitter. Read some of the hate tweets to Michelle Beadle, who called him out for spouting such nonsense. They are precious.
arc99 July 25th, 2014 at 15:15
I have never been a fan of Stephen A’s abrasive on-air personality, but his undeniable knowledge and insight into basketball was a mitigating factor.
But yes, his comments are profoundly ignorant. There is never an excuse or a reason or a justifiable “provocation” for domestic violence. None..
what an a$$.
arc99 July 25th, 2014 at 15:15
I have never been a fan of Stephen A’s abrasive on-air personality, but his undeniable knowledge and insight into basketball was a mitigating factor.
But yes, his comments are profoundly ignorant. There is never an excuse or a reason or a justifiable “provocation” for domestic violence. None..
what an a$$.
R.J. Carter July 25th, 2014 at 15:36
What, the FCC wouldn’t let him say “Bitches an’ Hos should shut it and make sammiches”?
Anomaly 100 July 25th, 2014 at 16:01
I can’t stop trolling him on Twitter. Stop me. Please.
M A G July 25th, 2014 at 16:24
No way! Keep it up, girl!
Anomaly 100 July 25th, 2014 at 16:52
Oh come on, guys!
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 16:56
Invite him to be the keynote speaker at FON-Fest!
Khary A July 25th, 2014 at 17:00
FON-Fest…That’s a thing?
Anomaly 100 July 25th, 2014 at 18:21
It’s a thought. We’re working on something. It would be nice for all of us to meet up:-)
Anomaly 100 July 25th, 2014 at 17:42
As if he’d make it out alive.
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 17:43
You’re always looking on the bright side!
Anomaly 100 July 25th, 2014 at 18:21
I try, I try.
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 18:22
“Other’s try, you accomplish”, R. Blaine
R.J. Carter July 25th, 2014 at 15:36
What, the FCC wouldn’t let him say “Bitches an’ Hos should shut it and make sammiches”?
Anomaly 100 July 25th, 2014 at 16:01
I can’t stop trolling him on Twitter. Stop me. Please.
MIAtheistGal July 25th, 2014 at 16:24
No way! Keep it up, girl!
Anomaly 100 July 25th, 2014 at 16:52
Oh come on, guys!
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 16:56
Invite him to be the keynote speaker at FON-Fest!
The last of the Thousad Sons July 25th, 2014 at 17:00
FON-Fest…That’s a thing?
Anomaly 100 July 25th, 2014 at 18:21
It’s a thought. We’re working on something. It would be nice for all of us to meet up:-)
Anomaly 100 July 25th, 2014 at 17:42
As if he’d make it out alive.
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 17:43
You’re always looking on the bright side!
Anomaly 100 July 25th, 2014 at 18:21
I try, I try.
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 18:22
“Other’s try, you accomplish”, R. Blaine
M A G July 25th, 2014 at 15:41
We women should avoid tight clothes and short skirts to avoid causing men to rape us too, I bet. Wow, so this guy thinks men cannot control themselves. Projection, maybe?
Billy Jackson July 25th, 2014 at 15:42
And you better get something to smash those boobies down, young lady!!
M A G July 25th, 2014 at 16:23
Burqas now required so we don’t cause a melee amongst the menfolk I guess.
Carla Akins July 25th, 2014 at 16:25
Becasue it’s all our fault.
Billy Jackson July 25th, 2014 at 16:31
Every boner popping minute of it!!!!
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 16:58
There is that story about an apple, so, yeah, it’s all your fault!
Carla Akins July 25th, 2014 at 17:22
Original sin, it always comes back to bite us on the ass.
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 17:26
Yes, but some of those are love bites!
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 16:57
Wouldn’t help, because then we start imagining what you look like without them on!
Carla Akins July 25th, 2014 at 16:25
I made that argument at work this morning – and it got ugly. I was told by a male co-worker that it’s not the same “as sex”. He then told me if she spit on him, that was provoking and she caused it. I was stunned, I’ve known this man for 8 years, we share the same political views – for god’s sake he has a 22 yr-old daughter.
R.J. Carter July 25th, 2014 at 16:29
This brings up an interesting discussion, though. When does an action become considerable as provocation? Can we spit on someone and — genders removed — not expect retaliation?
Carla Akins July 25th, 2014 at 16:35
It’s a good topic for conversation. Personally, I feel spitting on someone is beyond disrespectful and conveys a particular contempt. Legally its simple assault, but rational people don’t respond with physical violence regardless of gender.
R.J. Carter July 25th, 2014 at 16:41
There’s probably a lot fewer rational people out there than I would have guessed prior to this hypothetical situation.
Carla Akins July 25th, 2014 at 16:44
Disappointing, huh? I felt similarly during the Zimmerman trial.
Khary A July 25th, 2014 at 17:19
I have been having this subject come up in my recent conversations with friends, both men and women. The feedback has been as varied as there are stars in the sky. Men saying the knee-jerk reaction statement of ” It’s never OK to hit a woman.” Women saying “it depends on whats happening.” and everything in between. In the mindset of egalitarianism is it acceptable? To claim that women are the weaker sex etc etc lends to the notion that because of this innate weakness they should be protected but that ideology is not sufficient in a modern mindset of gender equality. Then the opposite side stating that men haven’t the mental faculties to control themselves around women so they lash out in violent ways as a male doesn’t sit well with me so I eschew the idea of “don’t anger me or HULK SMASH!!!” As someone who has witnessed domestic abuse from outside and personally ( being the abused) I am torn in my thoughts. I feel that as people there is always a reason to strike someone if provoked enough but I use civility to manage those impulses, so far so good. I will say this though when my ex was blooding me up something fierce(seriously she was beating me imperial, used books and stuff) and for all my whelps and bruises i never struck back, I knew I could turn her into a fine red smear on the wall but i held it in…but I was paralyzed by my fear of reprisal from authorities, from the mockery of my male friends ( unfounded but at the time i didn’t know that) the list of shames and shackles goes on. I opted to not defend myself from blatant and real aggression because of the idea that she was the weaker sex. After seeing me split lipped and bruised one too many times a good female friend of mine took action and made it known to my ex that if she ever did it again she’d destroy her. That seems like a lot to go through doesn’t it when i could have just handled that fight myself. Now of course I am not advocating anything that Smith is saying but I am concerned about the future of this kind of dialogue.
M A G July 26th, 2014 at 08:25
In my eyes, anyone can be abused by their significant other. I’m sure sane sex couples have the same sort of domestic abuse problems and it’s wrong no matter the gender of the abuser or abusee. Actually, one of my first thoughts upon reading the comment Smith made was that it’s not always a woman being abused by a man.
I don’t know why some have such a hard time just being decent to others. Thanks for sharing your story, sounds horrible.
R.J. Carter July 26th, 2014 at 12:44
Exactly the points I was thinking.
Robert M. Snyder July 25th, 2014 at 20:28
This is precisely the scenario in which Atticus Finch found himself in To Kill a Mockingbird. I would venture to say that most men would punch a man like Bob Ewell who spit in their face.
Tammy Minton Haley July 25th, 2014 at 17:24
…it can be disconcerting to discover something so apparently wrong-headed in someone you thought was…more enlightened…
MIAtheistGal July 25th, 2014 at 15:41
We women should avoid tight clothes and short skirts to avoid causing men to rape us too, I bet. Wow, so this guy thinks men cannot control themselves. Projection, maybe?
Billy Jackson July 25th, 2014 at 15:42
And you better get something to smash those boobies down, young lady!!
MIAtheistGal July 25th, 2014 at 16:23
Burqas now required so we don’t cause a melee amongst the menfolk I guess.
Carla Akins July 25th, 2014 at 16:25
Because it’s all our fault.
Billy Jackson July 25th, 2014 at 16:31
Every boner popping minute of it!!!!
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 16:58
There is that story about an apple, so, yeah, it’s all your fault!
Carla Akins July 25th, 2014 at 17:22
Original sin, it always comes back to bite us on the ass.
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 17:26
Yes, but some of those are love bites!
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 16:57
Wouldn’t help, because then we start imagining what you look like without them on!
Carla Akins July 25th, 2014 at 16:25
I made that argument at work this morning – and it got ugly. I was told by a male co-worker that it’s not the same “as sex”. He then told me if she spit on him, that was provoking and she caused it. I was stunned, I’ve known this man for 8 years, we share the same political views – for god’s sake he has a 22 yr-old daughter.
R.J. Carter July 25th, 2014 at 16:29
This brings up an interesting discussion, though. When does an action become considerable as provocation? Can we spit on someone and — genders removed — not expect retaliation?
Carla Akins July 25th, 2014 at 16:35
It’s a good topic for conversation. Personally, I feel spitting on someone is beyond disrespectful and conveys a particular contempt. Legally its simple assault, but rational people don’t respond with physical violence regardless of gender.
R.J. Carter July 25th, 2014 at 16:41
There’s probably a lot fewer rational people out there than I would have guessed prior to this hypothetical situation.
Carla Akins July 25th, 2014 at 16:44
Disappointing, huh? I felt similarly during the Zimmerman trial.
The last of the Thousad Sons July 25th, 2014 at 17:19
I have been having this subject come up in my recent conversations with friends, both men and women. The feedback has been as varied as there are stars in the sky. Men saying the knee-jerk reaction statement of ” It’s never OK to hit a woman.” Women saying “it depends on whats happening.” and everything in between. In the mindset of egalitarianism is it acceptable? To claim that women are the weaker sex etc etc lends to the notion that because of this innate weakness they should be protected but that ideology is not sufficient in a modern mindset of gender equality. Then the opposite side stating that men haven’t the mental faculties to control themselves around women so they lash out in violent ways as a male doesn’t sit well with me so I eschew the idea of “don’t anger me or HULK SMASH!!!” As someone who has witnessed domestic abuse from outside and personally ( being the abused) I am torn in my thoughts. I feel that as people there is always a reason to strike someone if provoked enough but I use civility to manage those impulses, so far so good. I will say this though when my ex was blooding me up something fierce(seriously she was beating me imperial, used books and stuff) and for all my whelps and bruises i never struck back, I knew I could turn her into a fine red smear on the wall but i held it in…but I was paralyzed by my fear of reprisal from authorities, from the mockery of my male friends ( unfounded but at the time i didn’t know that) the list of shames and shackles goes on. I opted to not defend myself from blatant and real aggression because of the idea that she was the weaker sex. After seeing me split lipped and bruised one too many times a good female friend of mine took action and made it known to my ex that if she ever did it again she’d destroy her. That seems like a lot to go through doesn’t it when i could have just handled that fight myself. Now of course I am not advocating anything that Smith is saying but I am concerned about the future of this kind of dialogue.
MIAtheistGal July 26th, 2014 at 08:25
In my eyes, anyone can be abused by their significant other. I’m sure sane sex couples have the same sort of domestic abuse problems and it’s wrong no matter the gender of the abuser or abusee. Actually, one of my first thoughts upon reading the comment Smith made was that it’s not always a woman being abused by a man.
I don’t know why some have such a hard time just being decent to others. Thanks for sharing your story, sounds horrible.
R.J. Carter July 26th, 2014 at 12:44
Exactly the points I was thinking.
Robert M. Snyder July 25th, 2014 at 20:28
This is precisely the scenario in which Atticus Finch found himself in To Kill a Mockingbird. I would venture to say that most men would punch a man like Bob Ewell who spit in their face.
Tammy Minton Haley July 25th, 2014 at 17:24
…it can be disconcerting to discover something so apparently wrong-headed in someone you thought was…more enlightened…
linann.singh@yahoo.com July 25th, 2014 at 16:02
How often does he beat his girl?
Linann July 25th, 2014 at 16:02
How often does he beat his girl?
fahvel July 25th, 2014 at 16:54
putain de merde? ou seulement un encule? I just can’t find the right vulgar expression in reaction to this assholes mindless garbage mouth.
fahvel July 25th, 2014 at 16:54
putain de merde? ou seulement un encule? I just can’t find the right vulgar expression in reaction to this assholes mindless garbage mouth.
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 17:00
He’s been an idiot forever. Just like most of his sports talking fellow troglodytes.
tiredoftea July 25th, 2014 at 17:00
He’s been an idiot forever. Just like most of his sports talking fellow troglodytes.
Robert Johnston July 25th, 2014 at 19:31
Never did like him…too much a provaceteur and not enough of a proper journalist.
Sadly, however–broadcast sports media (be it on radio or TV) seems to be the final resting place of misogny and misogynists.
For BSM, to quote the James Brown song, is truly “A Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”
And more is the pity that this is the case.
–RKJ
Robert Keith Johnston July 25th, 2014 at 19:31
Never did like him…too much a provaceteur and not enough of a proper journalist.
Sadly, however–broadcast sports media (be it on radio or TV) seems to be the final resting place of misogny and misogynists.
For BSM, to quote the James Brown song, is truly “A Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”
And more is the pity that this is the case.
–RKJ
Tommy6860 July 25th, 2014 at 21:11
It may be 2014, but the the neanderthal aspect still exist in these misogynists. Sheesh!
Tommy6860 July 25th, 2014 at 21:11
It may be 2014, but the the neanderthal aspect still exist in these misogynists. Sheesh!
fancypants July 25th, 2014 at 22:22
committing a crime is a pre requisite to be a Baltimore raven
fancypants July 25th, 2014 at 22:22
committing a crime is a pre requisite to be a Baltimore raven