Stephen A. Smith begins First Take with a lengthy apology for his controversial comments on Lane Johnson. "Here's the reality of the situation. I was wrong."

Good job guys. We bullied Stephen A. smith into a sincere apology on his third try. Everyone take the rest of the day off!

Stephen A. Smith went on to say that he does not want to dissuade anybody from seeking support for their mental health, especially given his own history. "I apologize. I need to do better, and I will."

Still needs to be suspended.

Yesterday: “People misconstrued me” Today: “I was wrong” Which is it Stephen A Smith? @stephenasmith

So many viewers basically avoid ESPN these days (outside of actual sporting events) because of Stephen A Smith. His over-the-top act is so exhausting and tired. He used to be a top shelf journalist too. Smh

Is this an apology for his original apology?

@Kevlewisjr Dude took 24 hours of free engagement before finally admitting basically everyone in his life told him he was an idiot and said he was sorry. Get this CLOWN off our TVs @espn. 🫡 Fire @stephenasmith 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

He's sorry he got exposed as a coward.

He says things to make news so he can comeback with an apology for CLICKS.

Typical. Gets immediate backlash, then tap dances out of it. Next week he’ll be disrespectful to the person again. This guy is definitive clown

STFU

He’s an unlikable, race hustling, pandering, attention seeking, blowhard, hyper narcissist, but he deserves credit for sacking up and apologizing.

Finally bro apologized for something

Bullshit! Even in a so called apology he couldn’t help bragging that no one made him do it because after all, I AM STEPHEN A SMITH! Having said that is Jordan Rodgers who nodded and smirked and openly agreed in full ass kissing mode, going to co-sign that apology?????

Take him off the air for a week. Even a day. Then he'll be really sorry...

I dont even believe he went through mental health issues himself as he claims. Why? Because honey, if you have dealt with mental health issues, you have empathy for others. At the VERY least. Lastly, 3rd apology attempt is not an apology. Gtfoh

SAS...apology or not...GTFOH you insensitive buffoon! To ESPN's Management, if anyone in authority of programming and content had any 'stones'...he already would have been terminated

Just don’t watch

Who willingly watches this garbage? I only ever see it on as background noise in gyms and waiting rooms.

"Doesn't matter what my intent was, what matters is how it was received" Still had to throw in a deflection of blame

Nah, he was up there cacklin like a hyena! Now he wanna have a serious tone… This is a fake apology. Stephen A has lost his touch. Hate to say it, but that’s just how life works. “Two Face” said it best… (Pun intended)

At least he admitted he was wrong. How many people in today’s world will never admit wrongdoing?

Choosing to joke about the eagles while talking badly about mental illness is behavior that deserves a suspension

Now @ESPN treat him like you would any other employee making under 6 figures and discipline him. Unfortunately that will never happen.

The vultures were circling so he is begging

You can come at me all you want. But really did sound sincere.

Ok, let’s just be human and realize that we make mistakes and to give the same grace to him as we would want ourselves. That isn’t to say if there is an appropriate consequence, it shouldn’t take place. It’s to say that he apologized and it seems genuine. He wasn’t reading from a teleprompter. He wasn’t reading from a statement. So while I understand many and their disgust with the hot take culture that is social media and media as well, let’s also extend grace where we’d like it as well when we make mistakes that are not crimes.

Nobody wants to hear this asshat apologize when we all know he’s not sorry.

We don’t accept your apology

Your apology means nothing

too little too late. Apology should have come yesterday, not today after he faced the firestorm. I'm sure the parent company will do nothing

Soft should have doubled downed.

THIS is an apology. It took a little too long but he did it, and it sounded sincere and not practiced or just him reading it. Good on you @stephenasmith! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

A dude who has never taken a nfl snap bashing a player for retiring is what espn is now trash.

He's still trash.