Stephen A Smith STUNNED! BACKTRACKS after Riley Gaines CHECKS HIM on her SLAMMING Simone Biles!
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Stephen A. Smith Stunned: Backtracks After Riley Gaines Checks Him on Simone Biles Controversy
Introduction
In a recent episode of his podcast, Stephen A. Smith found himself at a loss for words after a heated exchange with Riley Gaines, a prominent advocate for protecting women’s sports from transgender inclusion. The discussion centered on a public feud between Gaines and Olympic gymnastics legend Simone Biles, who had criticized Gaines for her stance on transgender athletes in female sports. While Smith initially supported Gaines’ position on the broader issue, he took issue with her referencing Larry Nassar, the disgraced former USA Gymnastics doctor, in her response to Biles. However, Gaines stood her ground, providing personal context and compelling arguments that left Smith reconsidering his critique. This article explores the controversy, the cultural debate surrounding transgender athletes in women’s sports, and the powerful moment when Gaines “checked” one of sports media’s biggest voices.
The Backdrop: Simone Biles vs. Riley Gaines
The drama began when Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnasts in history, publicly criticized Riley Gaines over her outspoken opposition to transgender women competing in female sports. Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer, has become a leading voice in the crusade to protect women’s athletic spaces, drawing from her own experience competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. Her advocacy gained renewed attention after a male-identifying pitcher dominated a girls’ high school softball state championship in Minnesota, an incident that fueled her argument about fairness and safety in sports.
Biles, in a now-viral social media post, called Gaines “truly sick” and a “sore loser” for her relentless campaigning against transgender inclusion. “All of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser,” Biles wrote. “You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive or creating a new avenue where trans people feel safe in sports. Instead, you bully them. One thing’s for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around.” The harsh words stunned Gaines, who admitted to being “heartbroken” by the attack from an athlete she had long admired.
Biles’ comments were met with widespread backlash from both the right and left, with many viewing her stance as dismissive of legitimate concerns about fairness in women’s sports. In response, Biles issued a follow-up apology, though critics described it as “weak” and still reflective of a “woke” perspective. The controversy set the stage for Gaines’ appearance on Stephen A. Smith’s podcast, where the discussion took an unexpected turn.
Stephen A. Smith’s Initial Stance
Stephen A. Smith, known for his bold takes on ESPN and his personal podcast, invited Riley Gaines to discuss the feud with Biles and the broader issue of transgender athletes in sports. From the outset, Smith made it clear that he sided with Gaines on the core issue. “I side with you 1,000%. I have no problem with your position whatsoever, and I’m not scared to say it,” he stated. “Women should be competing against women. Men should be competing against men. And transgenders should be competing against transgenders. I have no problem with it whatsoever. I don’t know why that’s controversial.”
Smith’s alignment with Gaines reflected a growing sentiment among many sports fans and commentators who argue that biological differences between males and females create an uneven playing field in competitive athletics. He acknowledged the importance of protecting women’s spaces, citing Title IX and the need for fair treatment under the law. However, his support came with a caveat: he took issue with Gaines’ decision to bring up Larry Nassar in her response to Biles.
The Larry Nassar Reference: A Point of Contention
In her rebuttal to Biles, Gaines had referenced Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics national team doctor convicted of sexually abusing multiple athletes, including Biles, under the guise of medical treatment. Gaines wrote, “All the horrific sexual abuse Simone Biles witnessed and spoke out against, caused by one man, yet believes women should be forced to strip naked in front of men to validate the man’s feelings. You know how many gold medals you’d have if your inclusive dream came true? Zero.” Smith found this comparison “below the belt,” arguing that invoking Nassar—a figure tied to such heinous crimes—was inappropriate and insensitive given Biles’ personal trauma.
“I took umbrage with what you said because you brought him up,” Smith told Gaines. “That was the only thing that I criticized you for because I thought that was really, really below the belt considering how heinous of an individual, how despicable Larry Nassar was, and what Simone Biles was subjected to because of that man. Any regrets at all about saying that, bringing up Larry Nassar, is what I’m asking.”
Riley Gaines Stands Her Ground
Rather than back down, Riley Gaines doubled down on her statement, providing context that shifted the tone of the conversation. “I stand by what I said 100%, but let me provide a little context,” she began. Gaines clarified that she viewed Nassar as a “monster” who deserved to “spend every single waking second for the rest of his life miserable and rotting away in prison.” She emphasized that she and Biles agreed on the severity of his crimes, but her reference to Nassar was meant to draw a parallel to her own experiences of sexual abuse and discomfort in women’s spaces.
Gaines recounted her personal ordeal as a swimmer, describing the vulnerability of being in an open locker room on a pool deck with no private stalls for changing or showering. “Does it get more perverted than standing in the shower, totally undressed, when a six-foot, 6’4” man approaches you, stands in the shower head next to you, undresses himself fully naked, fully intact, and watches you shower?” she asked. “That’s the context I was drawing. And to me, that is sexual abuse. What me and my teammates had to go through was certainly sexual abuse.”
Her powerful testimony highlighted the broader issue of safety and privacy for female athletes, arguing that normalizing such situations—or silencing those who speak out against them—perpetuates harm. Gaines connected her experience to Biles’ testimony before Congress about the Nassar abuse, noting that their messages about protecting women were fundamentally the same. “No girl should have to go through this, whether it is rape, whether it’s unwanted touching, whether it’s voyeurism, whether it’s indecent exposure,” she asserted. “And no woman should ever, ever be shamed for pointing out when men are abusing women.”
Stephen A. Smith Backtracks
Faced with Gaines’ raw and personal account, Stephen A. Smith found himself unable to push back. “Riley, I can push back, but I won’t even try,” he admitted. “And the reason why… I won’t even try is because you make a very, very valid point. First of all, your personal experiences. Secondly, you’re a lady, I am not. And so when you talk about what’s offensive to you… I can never know what Riley Gaines just alluded to other than how you explained it. So I really appreciate that point, and I thank you for it.”
Smith’s backtrack was a rare moment of humility for the outspoken commentator, who is often known for dominating debates with his larger-than-life personality. His acknowledgment of Gaines’ lived experience as a woman—and his inability to fully understand it—underscored a critical point in the discussion: men, regardless of their opinions, cannot dictate how women should feel about their safety and privacy in sports. This exchange marked a significant shift, as Smith moved from criticism to respect, allowing Gaines’ perspective to stand unchallenged.
The Broader Debate: Transgender Athletes in Sports
The conversation between Smith and Gaines also touched on potential solutions to the contentious issue of transgender athletes in sports. Smith asked if there was an “equitable solution” to the debate, pointing out the societal hypocrisy of advocating for women’s protection under laws like Title IX while seemingly ignoring those principles in discussions about transgender inclusion. Gaines acknowledged the complexity of the issue, noting that she initially supported the idea of a third category for transgender and non-binary athletes, as suggested by Biles in her initial critique.
However, Gaines explained that her view changed after the international swimming governing body, FINA, created such a category at a high level of competition, only for no one to participate. Notably, Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer at the center of much of the debate, sued World Aquatics over the rule, arguing against competing in a separate category. “He doesn’t want to compete if he can’t trample on women in the process,” Gaines remarked, highlighting the resistance to solutions that prioritize both inclusion and fairness.
Cultural Implications and Public Reaction
The exchange between Stephen A. Smith and Riley Gaines reflects a broader cultural war over transgender inclusion in sports, a debate that has polarized opinions across political and social spectrums. As the “Black and White Sports” commentary noted, the left appears to be losing ground on this issue, with even progressive voices questioning the fairness of current policies. Gaines’ ability to “check” Smith—a figure often seen as unshakeable—has resonated with conservatives and moderates alike, who see her as a champion for women’s rights in athletics.
Smith’s history of being “stunned” and “going silent” when faced with conservative guests like Officer Tatum, Candace Owens, and Megyn Kelly was highlighted by the commentators, suggesting a pattern of reevaluation when confronted with compelling arguments. For Gaines, the moment was less about personal vindication and more about amplifying the voices of young female athletes, like her 16-year-old sister, who she believes deserve protection from policies that compromise their safety and opportunities.
Conclusion
The confrontation between Stephen A. Smith and Riley Gaines on his podcast was a defining moment in the ongoing debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports. Gaines’ unapologetic defense of her stance, coupled with her personal testimony, forced Smith to reconsider his initial criticism, resulting in a rare backtrack from the sports media titan. Her arguments underscored the importance of listening to women’s lived experiences, particularly on issues of safety and fairness in athletics.
This controversy, sparked by Simone Biles’ criticism and fueled by broader cultural tensions, highlights the complexities of balancing inclusion with equity in sports. While solutions remain elusive, Gaines’ voice continues to resonate as a powerful advocate for female athletes. As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: moments like these, where personal conviction meets public discourse, have the potential to shift perspectives and challenge even the loudest voices in media. For now, Riley Gaines stands as a testament to the impact of speaking out, leaving Stephen A. Smith—and many listeners—rethinking their positions on one of the most divisive issues in modern sports.
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