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Two of the most influential black men in media have parted ways.Earlier today, radio veteran Tom Joyner announced that longtime contributor Tavis Smiley is no longer associated with the daily syndicated morning show, 'Tom Joyner Morning Show.'
"I got a call from Tavis on yesterday," Joyner said. "And he told me he was quitting the show. He told me the reason was that he was tired and has a lot of things going on, and he feels that now is a good time to leave the show."
"We all know that isn't the real reason he's leaving the show," Joyner continued. "The real reason is that he can't take the hate he's been getting regarding the Barack issue - hate from the black people that he loves so much. He needed to feel the love. We all do, whether it's from our radio audience or from people we know personally. He wasn't feeling any love, so he quit."
Smiley, a best-selling author and motivational speaker, is the host of his own eponymous, daily PBS talk show. He has minced no words about his opinions about Obama; even prompting 'Chicago Sun Times' columnist Laura Washington to deem him " vociferous and cagey Obama critic."
In her April 7 column, she referred to Smiley as "out of touch" and even went as far to say that "his attacks on Obama are alienating his base. PBS and his multitude of corporate benefactors didn't hire him to weave conspiracy theories and pick fights with natural allies."
That's food for thought indeed.
A spokesperson for Smiley could not be reached by deadline.
BV COMMUNITY: Weighing In On Tavis Smiley's Departure
Beyonce and Jay Z
U.S. singer-actress Beyonce Knowles and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z pose for photographers before the start of the Emporio Armani's Fall/Winter 2008/09 men's collections during Milan Fashion Week, in this January 13, 2008 file photo. Jay-Z and Knowles married on April 4, 2008 in New York, People magazine reported on its Web site, citing an unidentified friend of the couple. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo/Files (ITALY)
Reuters
**FILE** U.S. entertainers Beyonce, right, and Jay-Z arrive to attend the Emporio Armani Fall/Winter 2008-2009 men's collection, presented in Milan, Italy, in this Jan. 13, 2008 file photo. The Web sites of celebrity magazines People and Us Weekly reported the couple married and threw a lavish but small party at the apartment Friday, citing unnamed sources who are friends with the pair. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
AP
* EXCLUSIVE * .Singer Beyonce, Rapper Jay-Z and Rapper Kanye West at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center on February 10, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. **EXCLUSIVE**.50th Annual GRAMMY Awards - Backstage and Audience.Staples Center.Los Angeles, California United States.February 10, 2008.Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com..To license this image (15480323), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Singer Beyonce, rapper Jay-Z and Michelle Williams during the Sony/BMG Grammy After Party at the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 10, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California..Sony/BMG Grammy After Party - Inside.Beverly Hills Hotel.Beverly Hills, California United States.February 10, 2008.Photo by Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com..To license this image (15479721), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Singer Beyonce, rapper Jay-Z and Michelle Williams during the Sony/BMG Grammy After Party at the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 10, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California..Sony/BMG Grammy After Party - Inside.Beverly Hills Hotel.Beverly Hills, California United States.February 10, 2008.Photo by Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com..To license this image (15479717), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Singer Beyonce, rapper Jay-Z and Michelle Williams during the Sony/BMG Grammy After Party at the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 10, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California..Sony/BMG Grammy After Party - Inside.Beverly Hills Hotel.Beverly Hills, California United States.February 10, 2008.Photo by Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com..To license this image (15479713), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
**EXCLUSIVE**.. * EXCLUSIVE * .Rapper Jay-Z, singer Beyonce and rapper Kanye West at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center on February 10, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. **EXCLUSIVE**.50th Annual GRAMMY Awards - Backstage and Audience.Staples Center.Los Angeles, California United States.February 10, 2008.Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage.com..To license this image (15479078), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
* EXCLUSIVE * .Singer Beyonce and rapper Jay-Z at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center on February 10, 2008 in Los Angeles, California..50th Annual GRAMMY Awards - Backstage and Audience.Staples Center.Los Angeles, California United States.February 10, 2008.Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage.com..To license this image (15479017), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
**EXCLUSIVE**.. * EXCLUSIVE * .Actress Solange Knowles, singer Beyonce and rapper Jay-Z at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center on February 10, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. **EXCLUSIVE**.50th Annual GRAMMY Awards - Backstage and Audience.Staples Center.Los Angeles, California United States.February 10, 2008.Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage.com..To license this image (15479015), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
**EXCLUSIVE**.. * EXCLUSIVE * .Singer Beyonce and rapper Jay-Z at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center on February 10, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. **EXCLUSIVE**.50th Annual GRAMMY Awards - Backstage and Audience.Staples Center.Los Angeles, California United States.February 10, 2008.Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage.com..To license this image (15478957), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Comments: (352)
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By: Paul Mangum on 4/11/2008 6:32PM
Good!I don't feel sorry for that bitchass prick!
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By: lisa on 4/11/2008 6:55PM
Ive enjoyed my drive to work listening to TJMS for years. I even enjoyed Tavis and thought he had a lot of insight to the climate in our country and our people. Then Obama decided to run for president. He changed. He started overtly and covertly,all the while denying it, hating on Obama. At first he sounded jealous to me. Then he made me wonder if he was working for the republicans cause we know Barack has a better chance of winning against Mc Cain than Hillary. I for one started tuning out the TJMS whenever his commentary came on in the last few weeks. How many other people did the same????
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By: QSTYK9 on 4/11/2008 7:12PM
It's confusing to me how a black man can make The Letterman/Leno, Oprah Winfrey and Saturday Night Live game/fun shows but couldn't find the time to attend the annual "State of the Black Union....
That's HOT!!!
And it strikes me that most of the black folks are circling the wagons around Barack, when he hasn't asked for or shown any inclination that he's looking for specifically BLACK votes.
But what's more important is that, what's being said is that "We are not voting for Barack because he is Black".... But what I'm seeing is that all of those NEW Democrat voters that he has pulled into the party are haters and will not vote for Hillary or at all for that matter if he doesn't get the nomination....
If you know enough about politics, you know Hillary can still win it at the convention. It's happened before.
Let's have civil differences of opinion when it comes to Barack and Hillary and don't be "hate-in" (sic) so much on Hillary, that you won't vote for her in the general election if she gets the nomination....
No matter what or who, we must put a Democrat in the White House and keep the Congress with a Democratic majority.... (be prepared to vote two years later)
A lot of these NEW voters are voting with thier hearts and not with thier heads, but that's OK, because we just have to vote, no matter what....
And now that your involved, stay involved because guys like Tavis, Tom, Jesse, Al and me are not going to be here much longer (we're getting long in the tooth) and this is all going to be for you NEW voters in the future.
Think about it, if you came home every night saying your tired from what you did all day, think about guys like Tavis and how tired he must be trying to help black folks and other peope of color make a mark on this planet and get the proper credit for it. Man that's hard work. I think, that along with being tired, he's seeing and hearing people that seem to be ungrateful for all the work he and people like him have put in and have become disloyal because of this historic race and his stance.
Don't hate on Tavis because we have a difference of opinion, and be prepared to vote for BILLARY if Barack doesn't make it.
Don't be one of the crabs in the bucket.....
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By: mamie on 4/11/2008 7:00PM
Travis tell them to kiss your ass!!!!!!
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By: Black and Beautiful on 4/11/2008 7:07PM
I use to look forward to Tavis commentary, even bought his first covenant book. But I noticed that Tavis was speaking so negative about Barrack. I began to look at him very differently. I live in New Orleans and did not mind Barrack not coming to the Black summit Tavis was hosting. Barrack can do much more for my city as President of the US. Bush was here and he hasn't done a damn thing. It's one thing to disagree, or to critique, but Brotha Tavis when you began to only speak negative of a person it's no longer creative criticism, It's called hating Brotha Tavis.
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By: Tonia Dotson on 4/11/2008 7:17PM
I love Tavis and I belive in Sen. Obama and nothing is going to change that, no matter what people say about him this man if fighting for his political career so I go not blame him for not going to the event or to memphis for Dr. MLK event. It doesn't mean that he does not care he just have to do what he says to do. Saying all that Tavis practice what you preach you say you belive in Jesus Christ sometimes we have to go through some storms in life everybody is not going to love everything you say. Sorry to hear that your leaving the show I wish you well.
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By: jane on 4/11/2008 9:12PM
I find it funny, Tom Joyner stating Mr. Smiley needs to feel love, and Mr. Smiley's actions were not of love to Mr. Obama.
Mr. Smiley personified selfishness in this situation. Mr. Smiley is reaping what he sowed, he should own it, deal with it and stay on the show.
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By: Marie on 4/11/2008 7:47PM
All I can say about Tavis, is that GOD will bless him. He has a right to his opinions, but I don't believe in hurting or putting person down. Now to some of you out there who keejp saying that Senator Obama's words are only words that don't mean anything, this is what I have to say to you. You have been so concerned about Senator Obama's "WORDS", that they don't mean anything, well I would like for someone to explain to me this, when all of the other people who gives speeches - are using "WORDS", how do their words have so much more meaning than Senator Obama's words. After all they are just words. Do you think its because he can deliver his words with so much more passion? Why hate on a man because he know how to deliver WORDS? Right on NIKKI! I agree with you!Since I have been voting, I have voted for a white person for president, but this year if it's GOD will, I will vote for an African American. My grandparents and all of my ancesters will smile down on me and America.
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By: Jan on 4/11/2008 9:19PM
Everyone has an individual purpose, everyone! History is defined by individuals with specific purposes working collectively without the separation of hate or jealousy. We as a people have got to be mature enough to not only learn to respect to disagree but to also learn to respectfully voice disagreement. After hearing some of Mr. Smiley’s comments, I must say, they sounded too personal, especially, his commentary on “Obama’s Wake Up Call.”
Mr. Smiley like any other person has a right to his opinion (which he doesn’t express on his PBS show). The problem comes in when one thinks his or her opinion is the only voice for Black America. On a national radio program with increasing anxiety, Mr. Joyner has to also consider his listeners, especially if the commentaries were beginning to not only hurt his ratings but also do what they preached not to do, cause strife among us.
I can’t believe it took this to make Mr. Smiley quit when the majority of his commentaries have been on the strengths and struggles of Blacks, past, present and future. If you inject the criticism you got to be able to take it (We hate Fox, but they still take it). Am I disappointed he quit, not sure, but am I disgusted that he had to leave with much separation again within our own race, of course.
We are so much better than that! WE ARE! You don’t have to vote for Obama to respect him. As much controversy as we as a people can cause, I STILL LOVE US! Isn’t that something!
Peace and Blessings!
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By: Starmaine on 4/11/2008 10:08PM
Yall remember the morning when the "Queen" Aretha called him "Bogger Puddin"? She meant it as a term of endearment but I could tell that Tavis was not impressed. It seems he can only take a joke when he is not on the recieving end. Notice that Tom and J. Anthony did not ever, ever bring it up again either and the Queen even called back later to offer Tavis an apology too....What is up with him ? from that moment I knew he had issuses..........
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