Stephen A. Smith has officially pissed off The Navy.
The First Take host released a three-minute apology video after saying that Rihanna was “not Beyonce” while discussing RiRi’s upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance on Wednesday’s Sherri show.
“I will own it” said Smith in a video posted to Twitter and Instagram later that day. “I know what you guys are trying to do, but I will own it because I’m paid to make a living, so I have to be more careful.
“I want Rihanna to know that you are a superstar, you are sensational, you are spectacular, you are no joke and you are a worthy person to do the Super Bowl halftime show.”
Smith said he realized he was making headlines with his comments about Rihanna after he finished taping ESPN’s “First Take” on Wednesday.
“…I’m a Beyonce fan,” Smith said in his apology video. “I think Beyoncé isn’t just a phenomenal performer, she’s the phenomenal performer. The only reason any comparison came into play was because Beyonce was performing at halftime at the Super Bowl, not just alone [in 2013]but a separate appearance with Bruno Mars and Coldplay [in 2016] – and I thought they were two of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen.
Rihanna performs during the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. Getty Images for NARAS
“…I didn’t mean it disrespectfully towards Rihanna. I know she’s phenomenal and she’s my sister. Nothing but love for her, but Beyonce is my sister too. I got love for both of them. I just think that Beyoncé is the greatest artist out there today. This is me, it doesn’t mean I hate anyone else and it doesn’t mean I fucking wish Rihanna would fail. I think she’s going to be great.”
Smith then apologized to Rihanna and wished her the best of luck before she enters the Super Bowl halftime stage in Arizona next month.
“Rihanna, do your thing,” Smith said. “I apologize for causing the brouhaha that comes from this. I have to be more careful about where people twist it and turn it into something that it isn’t. My fault for that.”
The sports personality made his first comments when Sherri asked Shepherd if he was looking forward to Rihanna’s upcoming Super Bowl performance — and “The Navy.” [Rihanna’s fanbase] wasn’t happy about what he had to say.
“I don’t want to say I’m not excited,” Smith said. “She is fantastic. I don’t want to go there with it. Ladies and gentlemen, it is many things, it is spectacular and congratulations on the new one [motherhood].
“There’s one thing she’s not, she’s not Beyonce,” Smith said, as the audience let out a collective gasp. “The only reason I approached Beyonce is because Beyonce performed at the Super Bowl recently…there are levels, you know.
“Rihanna’s music is amazing, she’s amazing, she’s a sister. I love them very much, I listen to their music, I will support them until the cows come home. I’m just telling you for me, there’s Beyonce and then there’s everyone else… She’ll be good. She can’t be bad, she’s too great not to be good.”
Stephen A. Smith at the Cincoro Tequila Gold launch party on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 in New York City. Getty Images for Cincoro Tequila
Rihanna will take the stage on February 12 to perform the Super Bowl halftime show.