Stephen A. Smith Apologizes Following ESPN Suspension for Domestic Violence Comments

Plus, Michelle Beadle blasts Smith on Twitter

By Brett Malec Jul 30, 2014 6:45 PMTags
Stephen A. SmithAstrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for DirecTV

Stephen A. Smith is tweeting his mea culpa after being suspended by ESPN last week for controversial comments he made about domestic violence.

On Tuesday, a network rep confirmed Smith's one-week suspension from First Take, telling E! News, "ESPN announced today that Stephen A. Smith will not appear on First Take or ESPN Radio for the next week. He will return to ESPN next Wed."

And earlier today, Smith tweeted about the incident. "You've been waiting to hear from me. Now you will in approx 30 minutes. @ESPN_FirstTake coming at ya at 10am. No one's hiding!" Smith tweeted, followed by, "My apology on @ESPN_FirstTake Monday morning speaks for itself. I accept ESPN's Decision. See you all next Wednesday. God Bless!"

The controversial comments that Smith made were in regards to NFL player Ray Rice's suspension over domestic violence. "But what I've tried to employ the female members of my family, some of who you all met and talked to and what have you, is that again, and this what, I've done this all my life, let's make sure we don't do anything to provoke wrong actions," he said on Friday's episode of First Take.

ESPN's Michelle Beadle very publicly condemned her co-workers comments, tweeting, "So I was just forced to watch this morning's First Take. A) I'll never feel clean again B) I'm now aware that I can provoke my own beating."

She added, "I'm thinking about wearing a miniskirt this weekend...I'd hate to think what I'd be asking for by doing so @stephenasmith. #dontprovoke," followed by, "Violence isn't the victim's issue. It's the abuser's. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting. Walk. Away."