Stephen A. Smith takes issue with Marcellus Wiley’s recent comments.
Last month, Wiley discussed Smith’s role in pushing out Max Kellerman from “First Take” and questioned if it was because Kellerman was “smarter” than Smith.
Wiley also mentioned that Kellerman didn’t want to fulfill the role that Smith expected of him.
During an appearance on “The Breakfast Club” last week, Smith responded to Wiley’s remarks.
“Regarding what Marcellus Wiley said – I only have one thing to say. We worked together, and I have a lot of respect for him. I understand that he was talking about someone who was his best friend. No problem,” Smith said.
“But here’s my issue: for a black man to suggest that another black man is intimidated by someone else’s intelligence, that’s crossing a line. I have nothing more to say about it. It’s sad that he chose to go down that path. I guess he’ll get attention because everyone watches ‘The Breakfast Club,’ and they’ll see us addressing it.”
Smith continued to focus on Wiley’s comments about intelligence.
“I’m not going to argue with him. I’ve always had respect for him, and we’ve never had any issues,” Smith added.
“I don’t care what support he has for his friend or anyone else. I understand that. I support my friends too. But I would never, in a million years, say that one black man is intimidated by the intellect of a white man. I would never do that. That’s on him.”
Smith acknowledged that Kellerman is a “genius” and a “good person” and expressed his support for both Kellerman and Wiley. However, he also mentioned that if he encounters Wiley again, he will confront him about those comments.
In a previous appearance on “The Joe Budden podcast,” Smith explained that he removed Kellerman from “First Take” in 2021 because he didn’t enjoy working with him. He also questioned why Kellerman’s commentary should be taken seriously when he isn’t an athlete or journalist.
According to Wiley, Smith and ESPN executives urged Kellerman to move from Los Angeles to New York and join “First Take” in 2016 after Skip Bayless left. Wiley theorized that Terrell Owens’ statement on “First Take” that Kellerman is “blacker” than Smith struck a nerve with Smith.
“Max is gone because he didn’t conform. He didn’t fit in where they wanted him to,” Wiley said.
“And now Max has to deal with attacks on his credentials. That’s where I step in… The truth is, you can’t attack Max’s credentials.
“Okay, Max isn’t a journalist or an athlete. Well, why were you and the ESPN bosses begging him to come to New York to do the show? Did Max suddenly stop playing football that day? When was Max ever an athlete? When was Max ever a traditional journalist?”
Last week on “The Breakfast Club,” Smith was asked about Owens’ comments.
“That was just ignorant,” Smith responded.
“As black people, our community is incredibly important to me. There’s nothing I love more than black people, and there’s nothing I’d rather be than black. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have issues within our community.
“Often, when you think differently or independently, people within our own community criticize you. One moment, we want to be independent, maverick-style, and the next moment, we want to act as if we’re supposed to be a monolithic group. I don’t subscribe to that. Nobody thinks for me. I think for myself.
“However, when Marcellus said what he said, it was disappointing because it doesn’t hurt me; it hurts us. I’ve achieved enough that my intelligence is recognized. But what about those who haven’t accomplished what I have or haven’t had the opportunity to showcase their intellect?”
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