Tavis Smiley Quits Tom Joyner Show

April 11, 2008

Activist Said to Be Hurt by "Hate" Over Obama Stance

By Richard Prince

After 12 years as a fixture on radio's syndicated "Tom Joyner Morning Show," activist, commentator and broadcast personality Tavis Smiley has quit the show, Joyner told listeners on Friday.

Tavis Smiley

"He called me yesterday and said, 'I quit,'" Joyner said on the air.

Joyner said Smiley told him he was working on too many projects, but believed the real reason was that "he can't take the hate.

"He can't take the hate he's taken over Barack Obama. He's always busting Barack Obama's chops. They call. They e-mail. They joke. You know Tavis like I do. He needs to feel loved.

"We're so emotional about this Barack Obama candidacy. If you don't say anything for Barack Obama, you're considered to be a hater. . . . It's just that it hurts so deep when the people you love don't agree with you.

"He loves black America and black America has been very critical of him," Joyner said of Smiley. "It hurts. It hurt me to hear black Americans criticize him."

Joyner said Smiley's resignation was not effective immediately, but Joyner considered it to be so. "I asked him to reconsider," Joyner said, and although Smiley agreed to do so, "he had pretty much made up his mind."

Late Friday, Smiley issued a statement saying "it is my intention to take on the issues of the day in my commentary twice every week with the same energy, passion and commitment until the end of June." (See next item).

Smiley had been critical of Obama for not attending Smiley's annual "State of the Black Union" symposium on Feb. 23. Of the presidential candidates, only Sen. Hillary Clinton accepted the invitation. Obama said he would send his wife, Michelle, but Smiley insisted that was not good enough.

"I'm catching hell," Smiley acknowledged in an interview then with Michael H. Cottman of BlackAmericaWeb.com.

"Who Died and Made Tavis King?" asked a headline on theRoot.com over a column by Melissa Harris-Lacewell. "Does Tavis realize that Obama is trying to win an election?"

Not only have Joyner and Smiley been friends and allies, but Smiley's twice-weekly commentaries brought political analysis to the Joyner program, which also serves up music and comedy.

Joyner's "decision in 1996, to hire former Black Entertainment Television host Tavis Smiley to provide daily political commentary on The Tom Joyner Morning Show, was pivotal in raising political activism and awareness among blacks via the airwaves," Chandra R. Thomas wrote on Time.com last Saturday, in a story called "How Black Radio Found Its Voice."

Joyner urged listeners to call or e-mail Smiley or even their friend, professor Cornel West, who has been a part of Smiley's forums. "I think we should all let him know that black America still loves him."

Smiley addressed the controversy in a Feb. 14 commentary on the Joyner show, but it apparently failed to persuade listeners.

Among the projects Smiley is working on are a documentary, a bus tour and a book publishing company. But Joyner said both he and Smiley have always been multi-taskers.

Joyner asked one of the show's comedians, Huggie Lowdown, to make Smiley the "'Bama of the Week" for resigning.

Smiley: I'm Not Leaving the Joyner Show Until June

Tavis Smiley issued this statement late Friday:

There is no way to put into words the love and respect that Tom Joyner and I have for each other, or the love affair that I've had with TJMS listeners for almost 12 years now.

Due to the overwhelming amount of phone calls and e-mails I have received from listeners and other media, I wanted to briefly clarify a few issues that I will address more fully in my regular TJMS commentary on Tuesday morning, April 15, at 8:20 a.m. ET.

I did not "quit" the Tom Joyner Morning Show effective immediately. In July I will celebrate my 12th anniversary with the show, and as I discussed with Tom, it is my intention to take on the issues of the day in my commentary twice every week with the same energy, passion and commitment until the end of June.

Contrary to what has been suggested, I have decided to clear some things off my plate so that I can devote my time and attention to some exciting and empowering projects that The Smiley Group, Inc. and other divisions of my company have underway this summer, this fall and beyond.

Comments

[Tracey]

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[essay]

I am not a radio-listening individual but I conjecture the show was a great hit and the misfortune is amazing for the reason that it can not be turn around.

[Landry34Gwen]

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A shipment of arms was sent from China to Zimbabwe. There is no context in which this is supportable. The fact that the US is, also, a bad international citizen is not a good enough, or even a elevant reason to withhold criticism.

[Louis Vuitton Outlet]

A shipment of arms was sent from China to Zimbabwe. There is no context in which this is supportable. The fact that the US is, also, a bad international citizen is not a good enough, or even a elevant reason to withhold criticism.

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[ClubPenguinCheats]

I am not a radio-listening person but I guess the show was a big hit and the loss is great because it can not be turn around.

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It is often inferred that you just lack self-confidence within a victory through your rivals on the certainty that you happen to be irritable alongside them.

[Nike Jordan]

I am not a radio-listening person but I guess the show was a big hit and the loss is great because it can not be turn around. 12 years is so much but people should always be ready to see good things come to an end like the Tom Joyner Morning show came to.

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