ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith apologized Tuesday after receiving backlash for his remarks about Shohei Ohtani’s use of an interpreter.
“I want to express my sincere apologies to the Asian community and the Asian American community,” Smith said in his opening remarks on ESPN’s morning talk show “First Take.” “I am a Black man. I religiously go off about minorities being marginalized in this nation.”
I screwed up,” he added. “In this day and age, with all the violence being perpetrated against the Asian Community, my comments — albeit unintentional — were clearly insensitive and regrettable.”
“I’m sincerely sorry for any angst I’ve caused with my comments.”
Former ESPN commentator Keith Olbermann wasn’t so forgiving as he took to Twitter to not only condemn Smith’s racist rant, but call for his suspension.
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Back in 2020, Keith Olbermann asked for and received an early release from his contract at ESPN so he can restart his political commentaries.
“I have adhered to [ESPN’s] desire for their sportscasters to refrain from purely political commentary (an approach with which I largely agree), and they have now agreed with my desire to go and serve my country by focusing my energy on political commentary,” Olbermann wrote.
Ohtani currently leads the MLB in home runs (33) and posts a 3.49 ERA on the mound.
