Sports broadcasters and media announcers are often tangled in controversies stemming from things they say or formulate opinions on. Skip Bayless does it almost every day, with his most recent one coming about during the Damar Hamlin tragedy. And ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is no different in this category. Moreover, his target was the music sensation, Rihanna.
The First Take co-host appeared on Sherri Shepherd’s Fox daytime talk show’s Wednesday episode. And the topic of the upcoming Super Bowl LVII halftime show at the State Farm Arena came up. And Smith found himself in troubled waters when he compared Rihanna to a former Super Bowl halftime performer and pop icon, Beyoncé.
What did Stephen A. Smith say about Rihanna?
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Normally when Stephen A. comments on the matter of the Super Bowl, it’s usually predicting the outcome or about the ones competing for the Lombardi Trophy. And Smith should have thought twice before venturing into unknown terrains.
ALSO READ: Controversial Rihanna Statement Alongside Beyonce Leads to NBA Twitter Outburst
Rihanna is scheduled to be the performer for Super Bowl LVII in Arizona, Phoenix on February 12. However, Stephen A. thought he had seen and heard better. “Ladies and gentlemen, she’s a lot of things. But there’s one thing she’s not. She ain’t Beyoncé,” Smith told to loud groaning and booing from the live audience.
Host Shepherd even had to clarify that Beyoncé had already enjoyed her time and now it was Rihanna’s. Also, Smith has come out with a three-minute apology video to calm the Navy fan base. However, Stephen A spends most of those three minutes praising Beyoncé, and even hailing her as the “greatest performer out there today.”
Apologies to Rihanna for my words, gotta be more careful! pic.twitter.com/RLcsaQAJ4v
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 18, 2023
Rihanna’s Super Bowl announcement was released as a part of the Roc Nation and NFL tie-up. The news came out months before her new release ‘Lift me up’. Also, this was RiRi’s first single since her last album ‘Anti’ in 2016.
Stephen A laid a lot of the RiRi blame on his management
However, Smith got some praise from his fan for making heads turn and Rihanna knows about it by now as well.
A master at work. Now Rihanna has to respond to u and maybe go out for a drink sometime and talk it over who knows. 🎩
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) January 19, 2023
you aint lie …Riri is fire but she is NOT Beyonce !!
— NonSHALant (@sha_doeee) January 18, 2023
I’m a huge @rihanna fan but I don’t think you said anything wrong and have nothing to apologize for. Last time I checked you made a living comparing athletes to one another. Is this any different?
— Bobby Maximus (@BobbyMaximus) January 18, 2023
The man talks shit to Cowboys fans for a living but Rihanna fans got him ready to go into witness protection lol
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 18, 2023
You have nothing to apologize for you said nothing wrong.
— Brian Fisher (@BrianGnation) January 18, 2023
Bro you didn’t do anything wrong. Apology not needed 🤦♂️your apology is weird to even listen to tbh. Primarily because no wrong was performed which makes it such an ODD thing to even read and listen to with your video apology. Just ODD bro.
— Michael McQuay 🇵🇭🇺🇸 (@LordBaelish73) January 19, 2023
Lol. Wow. Every second of everyday someone is ranking celebrity women. Sorry if reality offends you. I prefer Nicki Minaj over Lil Kim. Social media has liquified our brains to the point in which simple opinions are offensive. Get a life.
— Quincy L. S. Bingham (@quincylsb) January 19, 2023
Most thought that Stephen A didn’t cross any lines in stating his own opinion. Dallas Cowboys fans are used to Stephen A’s hate. Clearly, the double standard of an apology surprised them. However, in an attempt to make the situation better, Stephen A’s social media team put out some tweets, now deleted, that made things even worse. The veteran broadcaster apologized for his crew’s erroneous actions.
What a silly redirection. No one cares about the post, it was what you said and how you spoke about her on the talk show. Don’t deflect and make it about your social media team to sift some of the blame. You ain’t low.
— ❤️Fantasy is Non-Fiction📖 (@RevereRomance) January 19, 2023
"She ain't Beyonce"?
NO REASON TO SAY THAT. You ain't Steve Harvey. Shut your mouth, Old Man!— RadioAricka (@radioaricka) January 19, 2023
The problem is,whether it’s you or your “MGMT team” you’re still accountable. You’re saying too many inappropriate comments lately and may want to be careful. This time, it’s Rihanna. Next time, it may be someone to get you cancelled again like previous comments. BTW,Memoir is 💯
— 👸🏽Nikki Thompson✨ (@niknakkin69) January 19, 2023
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Stephen A apologized more for this than Skip Bayless apologized for his Damar Hamlin comments no way 😂😂
— bagh (@baghdadsburner) January 18, 2023
However, fans felt that it had less to do with the particular tweet and more with what he said on the Sherri Shepherd Show.
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“My social management team will never make a mistake like this again. My apologies again to Rihanna. And just to be clear, I’m a huge fan. Sherri and I were just having fun. That is all,” Stephen A tweeted to Rihanna.
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