ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith joked in a comment during a highlight during “SportsCenter’s” top 10 plays segment of a goal by Norway’s Maren Mjelde, noticing that one of the German players in the wall ducked slightly out of the way of the ball
“They might not want to mess their hair up,” he said.
Smith repeated the joke, making sure he was heard.
ESPN personalities Kate Fagan of ESPNW and “Around the Horn” and Megan Greenwell of ESPN the Magazine both responded to Smith’s comments on Twitter.
What happens when you're uneducated about something, don't get educated, but talk about it anyway? –> http://t.co/ZthyoQHhts
— Kate Fagan (@katefagan3) June 12, 2015
hey @stephenasmith, your many female colleagues really don't appreciate you making sexist jokes on air. http://t.co/Ery1Ng4QIR
— Megan Greenwell (@megreenwell) June 12, 2015
Smith has since apologized for his comments, which are not his first comments about women to rile up a female colleague at ESPN.
1-of-3: Folks, as usual, something I've said is gaining steam so let me address this right now: on @SportsCenter, doing highlights, I made a
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 12, 2015
Flip comment in fun about a women's soccer team not wanting to mess up their hair. Obviously, my comments were in poor taste. I have nothing
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 12, 2015
But the utmost respect for athletes of all genders — Especially since most are better than I'll ever be — so please KNOW I'm very sorry.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 12, 2015
I apologize. It certainly was not my intent to offend anyone.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 12, 2015
Follow Trent Baker on Twitter @MagnifiTrent
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