Stephen A. Smith apologized to Rihanna after his Super Bowl comments on “The Sherri Shepherd Show.” During his appearance on the daytime talk show, the ESPN analyst ruffled the feathers of Riri’s fans’ by comparing her to Beyoncé . He said, “There’s one thing that she’s not, she ain’t Beyoncé,” as he congratulated her for becoming a mom.
The audience reacted negatively to his comment and Smith followed up saying, “The only reason I brought up Beyoncé is because Beyoncé recently performed at the Super Bowl.”
American Sports Television Personality, Stephen A Smith on Rihanna’s upcoming Super Bowl performance
“she is no Beyoncé… there’s levels to the talent…there’s Beyoncé and everybody else” pic.twitter.com/k96pCDFJei
— I Choose Violence (@ourhermitage) January 18, 2023
Smith is a proud member of the Beyhive and expressed his appreciation for her 2013 solo performance and her joint performance three years later with Bruno Mars and Coldplay.
Rihanna’s loyal fanbase, the Navy, took to social media to voice their strong disapproval of Smith’s comments. One user tweeted, “He didn’t lie, she is NOT Beyoncé. She’s Rihanna and that’s why we love her, thanks for pointing that out @stephenasmith.” Another Navy member referenced the singer turned beauty mogul’s recent chart data. She wrote, “Rihanna not being anyone but herself has gotten her a long way. Keep the outdated talking points in the barbershop you messy old fart.
@stephenasmith.”
He didn’t lie, she is NOT Beyoncé.
She’s Rihanna and that’s why we love her, thanks for pointing that out @stephenasmith https://t.co/phnRC0ZPjQ pic.twitter.com/2K3kFFyJ3h
— Cris | dear reader 🕰️ (@crisbehavior) January 19, 2023
Rihanna not being anyone but herself has gotten her a long way. Keep the outdated talking points in the barbershop you messy old fart. @stephenasmith https://t.co/wbnwvqo8st
— JuanShaun (@ShaunJuan222) January 18, 2023
After seeing the backlash online, Smith posted a three-minute-long video apology to Rihanna, “I’m gonna own it… I want Rihanna to know, you’re a superstar, you’re sensational, you’re spectacular, you’re no joke and you are a worthy person to be doing the Super Bowl Halftime Show,” he says in his video.
Apologies to Rihanna for my words, gotta be more careful! pic.twitter.com/RLcsaQAJ4v
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 18, 2023
The apology was followed up by a series of tweets saying, “Horrific mistake. Something that was suppose to be a fun moment on the Sherri Shepard show has gotten out of hand. An overzealous member on my MGMT team — which has access to my account — posted something I would NEVER say about @rihanna, her fans or any other artist. The post…” Stephen A. Smith wrote in another tweet, “Has been removed. My social management team will never make a mistake like this again. My apologies again to @Rihanna. And just to be clear, I’m a huge fan. Sherri and I were just having fun. That is all.”
Horrific mistake. Something that was suppose to be a fun moment on the Sherri Shepard show has gotten out of hand. An overzealous member on my MGMT team — which has access to my account — posted something I would NEVER say about @rihanna, her fans or any other artist. The post…
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 18, 2023
Has been removed. My social management team will never make a mistake like this again. My apologies again to @Rihanna. And just to be clear, I’m a huge fan. Sherri and I were just having fun. That is all.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 18, 2023
