Terrell Owens angered Stephen A. Smith when he said a white co-host was “Blacker” than the outspoken ESPN host. Owens made the remark during a guest appearance on ESPN’s First Take on Thursday morning.
Owens and Smith engaged in a heated debate on the issue of Colin Kaepernick playing in the NFL again. Smith has been criticized for mocking the unemployed quarterback whose recent NFL workout was dismissed by Smith as a PR stunt.
Owens pointed out that Smith’s co-host, Max Kellerman, who is white, defended Kaepernick, saying the NFL and critics were unfair and racist toward the hapless quarterback.
“What (Colin Kaepernick) wanted was transparency – for people to see the full workout, to see the full Colin Kaepernick… I’m in the streets. Max (Kellerman) almost seems blacker than you, Stephen A., with his commentary,” Owens said to Smith. “I’m just saying. I’m just saying. I’m just saying.”
Smith, who is Black, was livid. “Timeout. Timeout. Timeout. Timeout. Timeout. Timeout. With all due respect, my brother, wait a minute. I’m-a check you right now. You’ve done crossed the line. Timeout. Timeout. Timeout. Wait a minute. You’ve done crossed the line,” Smith replied.
The man himself @terrellowens ASKED to come on @FirstTake today to cal back at me for things I’ve said this week on @Kaepernick7 and @MylesLGarrett situations. He ASKED, peeps. Not me. I’m gonna leave it at that.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 21, 2019
After the show, Smith said he was “offended” by the former NFL star for challenging his Blackness and basically calling him a coon.
“T.O. obviously offended me very, very much by questioning my blackness the way that he did,” said Smith.
“I thought it was bush league. I think it’s BS. But I forgive him. He’s my brother. And I got love for him. And it is what it is. There’s a lot of black people out there in America at this particular moment in time that have a problem with the position that I take. That’s fine. I want to assure everybody in the black community; I’m not backing up one damn bit. I’m not changing my mind. I’m not bowing down to y’all vitriol and the venom that y’all are aiming in my direction. Keep it coming. I don’t give a damn. Because I know I am right on this
