After creating a national scandal by refusing to stand for the national anthem, Colin Kaepernick decided not to participate in another long-held American tradition, and it infuriated ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
Kaepernick has spoken out against racial injustice and police brutality and became a spokesperson for young people nationwide. However, when it came to creating effective change at the ballot box, the quarterback did less than nothing because he didn’t even bother to vote.
Smith said Kaepernick’s refusal to vote makes him and the cause he started meaningless.
“As far as I am concerned, Colin Kaepernick is absolutely irrelevant,” Smith said on ESPN Wednesday. “I don’t want to see him again; I don’t want to hear from him again; I don’t wanna hear a damn word about anything he has to say about our nation — the issues that we have, racial injustices, needing change, etcetera, etcetera. He comes across as a flaming hypocrite.”
The 49ers player insulted many people in the armed services, who proudly defend the U.S. flag, and his refusal to stand for it was a smack in the face as far as Smith was concerned.
Smith continued, “Him of all people, because of the position he took, because of the attention he brought to the issues, the fact that you don’t even have the decency to go to the polls and activate yourself in this election, as our president said, is a damn shame. I don’t want to hear another word from Colin Kaepernick! It’s a waste of time.”
“I would personally make a request to the media in this nation,” Smith said. “Wherever he is, if he ain’t on that football field trying to throw another damn incomplete pass, do me a favor and make sure of one thing: Take the camera away from him. It means nothing!”
Watch the full rant below:
