Reddit co-founder and ESPN analyst exchange words.
Billionaire businessman Alexis Ohanian – who is also the husband of 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams – hit back at ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith regarding some recent comments. In response, Smith has dished out a response to the 42-year-old Reddit co-founder regarding the same. The back-and forth occurs in the aftermath of Smith declaring that he would split up with his wife, if she engaged in a performance to diss an ex-partner.
In February, Williams broke the internet when she joined Kendrick Lamar on stage during the NFL Super Bowl Half-Time Show. While the rap icon performed hit song ‘They Not Like Us’, the former World No. 1 was seen dancing to the diss track – presumably because she is the ex-partner of Drake – for whom the song was written. Following the controversial event, Smith suggested that it was wrong of Serena Williams to “troll” an ex-boyfriend.
“You could say give her props,” said the 57-year-old TV host. “If I’m your husband, why are you up there trolling your ex? If I’m married and my wife is going to join in trolling her ex, go back to his a** because clearly you don’t belong with me. What you worried about him for when you’re with me? Bye bye!” Just when everyone thought it was the end of the saga, things got heated.
Earlier this week, Alexis Ohanian made an appearance on ‘First Take.’ During the show, he wasted no time in firing an indirect jab at Smith for his strong statements. “You hadn’t been married before, right? Because I give advice to plenty of founders who want to build billion-dollar companies. The reason I do that is because I build billion-dollar companies. So generally, I try to stay in my lane in the advice department.”
Ohanian brutally suggested that Smith, who is unmarried, does not necessarily have the right to talk about another couple in the manner that he did. Serena Williams married Ohanian in November 2017 – nine months after the American legend won her final singles major at the Australian Open. They have two children together – Olympia (8) and Adira (2).
In response, Stephen A. Smith had an open-minded counter to Ohanian. “I’m glad that it didn’t escalate or anything like that. He is her husband, he loves her dearly, they have two wonderful children together. I have absolutely no issue with him wanting to address that situation with me… He says ‘I give advice about building companies because that’s what I do,’ essentially implying that I’m not married – so who am I to say something like that?”
Smith concluded that while he does not agree with Ohanian’s viewpoint, he has taken no offense to it whatsoever.
(Image Credits: Greg Lovett, Imagn Images)
