Stephen A. Smith has accused critics of the so -called 'Black National Antem' of threatening the 'fabric' of America – and compared the recoil with Donald Trump 'the debate around Colin Kaepernick with the knee.
Some NFL fans have called for a boycott of Sunday's confrontation between the Chiefs and the Eagles after it was revealed that 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' will be sung before the kick -off.
It is traditionally performed during the Pregame festivities of the Super Bowl, but has led enormous controversy in recent years.
The NFL has confirmed that Grammy Award -winning singer Ledisi will perform the song – for President Donald Trump – shortly before Jon Batiste's display of the star pangled banner on Sunday.
That led to an online return, but in an interview with DailyMail.com in New Orleans, ESPN star Smith said: 'I understand that society can sometimes be very polarizing, but the reality is that segments of our population have the right to proud to be about their culture, their people. '
He continued: 'Everyone has the right to feel the way they feel … If you don't damage anyone else, let it be.
Stephen A. Smith has accused critics of the so -called 'black national anthem' of hypocrisy
Ledisi will perform the black national anthem prior to the Super Bowl in New Orleans Sunday
Smith compared the return with Donald Trump 'hijacking' the debate around Colin Kaepernick
The Philadelphia Eagles and the Chiefs of Kansas City meet in the Super Bowl in New Orleans
'If we start telling people how to think and how to feel, even if they don't harm anyone else? Now you touch the American fabric.
“That's not what America is about. Freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom to think, to be a free thinker, that makes America special, and that is what we have to remember. '
Smith accused critics of the national anthem of hypocrisy. “We must be consistent with whom we complain about – when the Jewish community tells us what they are passionate about and what they care about, Jewish people don't try to tell them how to feel,” he said.
'Well, black people have the right to feel the way they feel – about whether there is a black national anthem or something … as long as it is not something harmful to America, the nation itself or for a segment of our population, What is the problem? '
Trump confirmed on Tuesday that he will be at the SuperDome in New Orleans this weekend and became the first sitting president ever to attend the Super Bowl.
The NFL has long been a vehicle for political debate, from 49 -star Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem in 2016, as players who do 'The Trump Dance' before and after the 2024 elections.
In Super Bowl LVII in 2023, the Republican politician and the old Trump-Loyalist Kari Lake won the headlines when she refused to stand for the black national anthem.
After it was performed on last year's Super Bowl, former Congressman of Florida, Matt Gaetz, claimed: “They desecrate the national anthem of America by playing something that is called the” black national anthem. “
Andra Day played 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' last season in the Super Bowl in Vegas
Kari Lake was seen to refuse to stand while the black national anthem was played in 2023
On Wednesday, Smith Kaepernick's controversial protest brought up and claimed that Trump 'hijacked the story' about the Quarterback, which has not played in the NFL since 2016.
“What was he)? He does not disrupt the 60 minutes. He takes a knee during the national anthem, said the 'first take' host.
“The president at the time – who is now the president, the 45th President of the United States – who was Donald Trump, hijacked the story because it was in his interest.
'I am the person who called Donald Trump in 2014 when he wanted to buy the Buffalo accounts. He the price tag was $ 1.4 billion. Allegedly he had around $ 1.1 billion.
'His exact words for me were – excuse my language:' If they stand in the way – what the NFL owners mean – I will get them all back. I'm going to the president. '
“Those are his exact words. They did not let the sale go ahead and he ran for President. The rest is history. So what I say is: that's how he felt. '
Smith continued: 'The reason why I bring the entire anthem forward with him is hijacking the story because …. bPreviously Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem, Marshawn Lynch sat on coolers, or on the couch, eating a banana. Nobody said a word. Why do you bush about Colin Kaepernick? '
The ESPN star insisted that America does not consist of 'One Monolithic Group'. “Hispanics differ from Jews, Jews differ from blacks, blacks differ from whites, etc., etc.,” he said. “Let everyone be themselves. Don't hurt anyone else. '
Smith made his name in Sportmedia, but he has become increasingly vocal about political issues since the November elections, when Trump defeated Harris Harris to get a return to the White House.
Smith has more support than different BIG-Note Democratic Presidential Hopeful, said a poll
The voters were asked who they would vote for if the Democratic Primary 2028 was held today
The ESPN guest lord recently shocked Bill Maher's audience with his blunt judgment about why Trump won a second term in the Oval Office and why he feels a 'damn fool' for supporting Harris.
Smith's comments led to rumors that he could make a run for the office and revealed a recent poll that he has more support than different Big-admitted democratic presidential hopeful.
John McLaughlin – the most important pollster of Trump – asked 1,000 general election elections: “Thinking ahead of the democratic primary elections of 2028 for President, if that election were held today among the following candidates, for whom would you vote?”
Two percent said they would choose the 'first take' host – more than the will of Beto O'Rourke, who ran for the nomination in 2020, and JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois (both a percent).
It is remarkable that Smith has only questioned one percentage point behind Tim Walz – Vice -Presidential Pick by Harris – and Pennsylvania – Governor Josh Shapiro.
On Wednesday, the 57-year-old played the prospect that he sought a candidate. But left the door open for a possible presidential run in 2028.
When asked what he will do in four years, Smith said: 'I will still exercise, but my voice will also not fade from the political landscape.
'Instead of talking that I am an elected officer or a runner for the President of the United States, what about me with a voice that is as strong as (commentators) Sean Hannity, as strong as Mark's Levin, as strong as Rachel Maddow. What about that?
“Because that is more likely. However, I will admit, as I said, I don't feel like doing this, but going out looked at me and said, “Yo, man, we want you to run to the office,” and I had a legitimate shot for it To win presidency of the United States, I am not going to lie. I will think about that.
“But I have to have my money. I'm not going to the White House broke. I'm not going to do that. I have to have my money. I have to have my home. I have to have my financial situation fully taken care of. I am not worried if that happens for me.
'If they told me that I had a legitimate, bona fide shot to win the presidency of the United States of America, I would entertain it.
'Because the part I don't joke about is that I believe that I could beat every candidate on that poll. Every candidate they called them, from Kamala Harris directly to (Pete) buttigieg and to Tim Walz. I would beat them all. I believe that. I really do it. '
