On Thursday’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith apologized to Jehovah’s Witnesses for implying that the denomination is opposed to taking the COVID-19 vaccine while discussing Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins being voted to the NBA All-Star team as a Western Conference starter.
“I made a mistake last week and I want to make sure that I clarify myself,” Smith said (via Mediaite’s Brandon Contes). “Last week, when discussing the incredible accomplishments of Andrew Wiggins this season… I introduced his religion in the discussion about vaccination.
“I could have and should have been more clear in that discussion. Because I fully understand that Jehovah’s Witnesses have no specific opposition to the vaccine. I did not make that clear, so I want to make sure I make that now and my apologies for the mishap.”
The video clip is available to watch at Mediaite.
Smith made his remarks in reaction to the NBA All-Star starters being announced. Wiggins being named to this season’s NBA All-Star team. The eight-year veteran is averaging 18.3 points and shooting 42 percent from three-point range.
“Andrew Wiggins also was hesitant about taking the vaccine. He’s a Jehovah’s Witness, from what I’m told,” Smith said on First Take. “And took [the vaccine] because ‘my team needs me.’”
Being characterized as anti-vaccine on a national sports program caused some unhappiness and misconception to which Jehovah’s Witnesses felt compelled to reply.
Smith was critical of Wiggins earlier in the season when the Warriors star sought a religious exemption from taking the vaccine, which the NBA denied. Faced with not being able to play home games in San Francisco, where attendees to large indoor events were required to show they were vaccinated, Wiggins eventually ceded and got vaccinated.
Last July, Smith apologized for remarks he made about Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani, saying he couldn’t be the face of Major League Baseball because he doesn’t speak English. For a good part of that First Take episode, he listened to several ESPN staffers including Jeff Passan and Joon Lee tell him why he was wrong.