Stephen A. Smith landed in the middle of another self-inflicted controversy after blasting Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s public attacks on President Trump as “rhetoric for the streets,” a take that predictably set off a wave of outrage from the usual suspects. The comments came on his SiriusXM program and instantly became a media circus, with voices across the left accusing him of disrespecting a powerful Black woman.
At first Smith dug in and framed the backlash as an attempt to cancel him, insisting he was asking a legitimate question about political strategy rather than trying to belittle Crockett. He named names and pushed back hard, calling the calls for his cancellation “shameful” and painting himself as the brave truth-teller under siege by outrage mobs.
But when the pressure didn’t subside and even mainstream outlets began to frame his remarks as tone-deaf, Smith suddenly shifted into damage-control mode and issued what he called an apology — claiming his words were misinterpreted and blaming the fallout on misunderstandings. That flip from defiance to contrition in short order proves the point conservatives have been making for years: too many on the media left will posture until a gust of public ire threatens the bottom line.
That sequence — roast, double down, and then backtrack — is political theater dressed up as journalism. It’s not principled debate; it’s optics management. If you change your stance to suit the climate of the moment, you’re not a commentator, you’re a brand trying to stay afloat, and the public should treat you accordingly.
Worse, Smith’s dance with controversy exposes a double standard within the media establishment. When left-leaning activists or politicians make incendiary comments, they are often defended as “authentic” or “speaking truth to power,” but when a media personality questions the strategy, the mob calls for blood. Conservatives see this and smell the hypocrisy — the selective outrage machine that protects its own and punishes anyone who strays from the approved script.
Americans are tired of manufactured scandals and manufactured apologies. What we need are commentators who will stand by principles and debate honestly, not pivot to whichever position keeps them trending or keeps advertisers comfortable. Stephen A.’s latest episode is a teachable moment: don’t mistake theatrics for integrity.
If nothing else, conservative voices and independent commentators who called out this flip-flop deserve credit for holding media figures to account. Hardworking Americans deserve sharper analysis and steadier conviction from people who claim to lead the conversation — not performative waffling designed to keep a platform.
