Stephen A. Smith Unloads On Critics Attacking Giannis Antetokounmpo's Wife: 'Don't Cross The Line'
Credit: Fadeaway World
Stephen A. Smith has never been afraid to voice his opinions, particularly when he feels that someone has gone too far. The ESPN star recently defended Mariah Riddlesprigger, the wife of Giannis Antetokounmpo, after she apparently faced criticism online.
In his recent appearance with the Culture Table podcast, Smith stated unequivocally that he thinks some lines should not be crossed when talking about someone else’s family. He stressed the value of honoring Giannis’ marriage to his wife and the family he has created while standing up for Riddlesprigger.
“Anybody who’s talking about his wife, f–k y’all. That’s that man’s wife, right? You know, I can’t stand people crossing lines. You don’t do that like, you don’t talk about another man’s wife,” Smith said.
“You understand what I’m saying? Like, again, when I got into the controversy about Serena, the only reason I brought up Serena is that Serena was on the stage on Super Bowl Sunday. And I was commenting about Super Bowl Sunday and the role she played in Super Bowl Sunday, right? I would never have thought to talk about somebody’s wife under any other kind of circumstance.”
“There are lines that you don’t cross. This woman that is married to the Greek freak doesn’t bother anybody. She says nothing. She loves her husband, her family, and she raises her kids in a very beautiful way,” emphasized Smith.
“And every man has things that matter to him, and that substance matters. And so it’s very, very important that we understand that. We should appreciate and respect that about Giannis. We should respect the fact that he values this wonderful woman who clearly completes him,” Smith added.
“He has you have four kids with a woman; she completes you cuz you ain’t sticking around for more than one if she don’t. If you know what I’m saying. I mean, that’s just the reality of the situation in most instances anyway. So, give him mad respect and love where it is due.”
In the end, Smith’s defense focused on a straightforward point: while criticism of athletes is a natural part of sports, he feels that their spouses and families shouldn’t be brought up needlessly.
Smith seems to feel that Riddlesprigger has gained respect in Giannis’ case because of the part she plays in the superstar’s life off the court. The Heat star Antetokounmpo is apparently often asked why he did not marry a model, which he recently addressed in an appearance on a podcast.
In this case, I agree with Smith that an athlete’s private life should be given enough respect so that his or her loved ones do not face the burden of what an athlete has done on the court. What an athlete does in their private time, like their personal choices of partners, should not be subject to public scrutiny.