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Stephen A. Smith has defended Michael Jordan after a viral clip from the Daytona 500 celebration sparked backlash online.
Michael Jordan was celebrating after Tyler Reddick secured the Daytona 500 victory for 23XI Racing when an eight-second video began circulating widely across social media platforms.
The clip led some fans to make very serious and unwarranted accusations, prompting Stephen A. Smith to address the situation directly on his show.
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Stephen A. Smith calls viral Jordan clip a ‘non-story’
Stephen A. Smith made clear he would not engage with what he viewed as a rush to judgment that lacked context and careful evaluation of the full situation.
He emphasized that short clips shared online can easily shape public opinion before viewers fully understand what took place.
“And a lot of people use that as impetus to touch on the inappropriateness involving Michael Jordan. I’m not here to comment on viral clips per se without full context.”
“You’ve got to contextualize these things properly. It’s a kid that Michael Jordan loves like it’s his own kid. It’s a kid that he’s known for years. That’s the son of a driver that just won the Daytona 500 for him.”
“It’s not the first time he’s been seen with the kid. Not the second time either. I’m not here to sit up there and absolve anybody from anything. I’m saying, why would we jump to that conclusion?”
“It’s a legitimate question. We’ve got to take into consideration the fact that it was just an 8-second clip. But I saw the video. It’s a non-story in my opinion, based on what I saw.”
Smith urges accountability based on facts, not feelings
Stephen A. Smith expanded the discussion beyond the clip itself and addressed what he considers a broader issue in how viral content is interpreted in the current media environment.
He stated that while accountability is essential in public life, any judgment should be grounded in verified facts rather than emotional responses.
“There’s nothing wrong with holding people accountable. But in the process of holding people accountable, it should be based on facts, not feelings.”
“It should be based on what we know, not what we think. We should stop acting like a viral moment is a verdict when we should know better.”
“You should be very, very hesitant to impugn the integrity of certain people who are as accomplished and who have done as much as Michael Jordan has done. And that is a rush to judgment with enjoyment attached to it.”
Michael Jordan has not publicly addressed the clip, and Stephen A. Smith indicated that he does not believe the situation warrants further escalation based on the footage that circulated.
Read more:
- Former US President Barack Obama tells Reggie Miller he loved Chicago Bulls beating him and Pacers
- Michael Jordan compares his NASCAR team’s win to winning an NBA championship
- Puka Nacua explains why LeBron James is the true NBA GOAT over Michael Jordan
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