Stephen A. Smith: 5 Things About ESPN Host Who’s Apologizing To Rihanna For ‘She Ain’t Beyonce’ Diss

• Stephen A. Smith is an ESPN big and TV personality.
• He began his acting vocation arsenic an onscreen newsman during a cameo connected General Hospital in 2007.
• On Jan. 18, 2023, Stephen took to Twitter to contented a nationalist apology to Rihanna for dissing her upcoming Super Bowl Halftime show.

One of the astir known faces successful sports quality is Stephen A. Smith, 55. The TV property and ESPN big is known for his assorted shows, including ESPN’s First Take. Many radical bask his contented for his bold and brutal honesty, which is apt wherefore helium titled his latest memoir what helium did. Stephen’s book, Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes, deed stores connected Jan. 17, 2023, and takes a look astatine his beingness and career. Below are 5 things to cognize astir the 55-year-old big and antheral who openly dissed Rihanna ahead of her 2023 Super Bowl Halftime performance!

Stephen A. Smith is simply a big for ESPN. (Shutterstock)

1. Stephen A. Smith Is A Host For ESPN

Stephen is not lone an author, but he’s besides a fashionable big for ESPN. He began contributing to the sports web from 2003 to 2008 earlier landing his ain amusement successful 2005. In addition, helium hosted The Stephen A. Smith Show connected ESPN Radio until 2008, per the authoritative ESPN pressroom. Stephen besides hosted ESPN2’s Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith from 2005 to 2007 on with NBA Shootaround (since renamed NBA Countdown) successful 2003. The fashionable sports writer has besides contributed to ESPN’s SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, First Take and arsenic impermanent big of Pardon the Interruption and Jim Rome is Burning. These days helium tin regularly beryllium seen connected First Take weekdays from 10 AM to 12 PM ET connected ESPN.

2. He Recently Dissed & Apologized To Rihanna

The sports newsman precocious came nether occurrence for dissing “Umbrella” hitmaker, Rihanna, up of her 2023 Super Bowl performance. When Stephen appeared on Sherri Shepherd‘s show, Sherri, connected Jan. 18, 2023, helium told her that Rihanna “is not” Beyonce. “I don’t privation to accidental I’m not excited, she’s fantastic, that’s not wherever I’m going with this,” helium began. “Ladies and gentlemen, she’s a batch of things, she’s spectacular really – and congratulations connected the new mama hood – there’s 1 happening she’s not, she’s ain’t Beyoncé.”

Apologies to Rihanna for my words, gotta beryllium much careful! pic.twitter.com/RLcsaQAJ4v

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 18, 2023

Later, helium took to his Twitter relationship to stock a nationalist apology video for the 34-year-old songstress. “Apologies to Rihanna for my words, gotta beryllium much careful!”, Stephen captioned the post. During the clip, helium clarified that helium is simply a instrumentality of hers and Beyonce’s. “You’re nary gag and you are a worthy idiosyncratic to beryllium doing Super Bowl halftime show,” helium said astatine the time. Notably, Stephen besides called Beyonce a “THE phenomenal performer” of the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

3. The TV Host Has A Podcast

Along with being a sports writer connected ESPN, Stephen besides has a fashionable podcast called Know Mercy with Stephen A. Smith. Some of the celebrated personalities helium has featured connected the amusement see Golden State Warriors subordinate Draymond Green, comedian and TV host Bill Maher, and discussing NFL prima Damar Hamlin. At this time, determination are presently a full of 52 episodes disposable to perceive to connected Apple Podcasts of Stephen’s show.

4. Stephen Is From New York City

Stephen A. Smith is simply a sports journalist. (Shutterstock)

Stephen was calved connected October 14, 1967, successful The Bronx, New York. His parent is Janet Smith and his father’s individuality is not publically known. He tin often beryllium spotted retired and astir successful the streets of NYC, arsenic helium was connected Jan. 17, 2023. Stephen shared a video of himself walking to his car successful the Big Apple aft attending a publication signing. He captioned it, “Thank you everyone for each the support! It has been an astonishing day!”

5. He Published A Memoir

The NYC autochthonal released his memoir Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes on Jan. 17, 2023. The publication reveals “his untold communicative for the archetypal time,” arsenic reported by ESPN. “Stephen A. Smith has ne'er been handed anything, nor was helium an overnight success. Growing up mediocre successful Queens, the lad of Caribbean immigrants and the youngest of six children, helium was a sports-obsessed kid who faced a fig of struggles, from undiagnosed dyslexia to getting capable cereal to capable his bowl,” the book’s statement reads. This marks the archetypal publication merchandise for Stephen.

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