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Stephen A. Smith Apologizes and Plans Memphis Visit After Safety Debate

Mayor Paul Young’s release of 2024–25 crime data prompted the ESPN host to retract his remarks on the city’s safety.

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Overview

  • Stephen A. Smith triggered the debate by suggesting that stars like Jimmy Butler avoid the Grizzlies because they consider Memphis unsafe.
  • Draymond Green and Desmond Bane defended the city on social media, arguing that Memphis’s risks mirror those of other metropolitan areas.
  • Mayor Paul Young presented 2024–25 crime statistics showing a 30% fall in homicides, a 13% drop in overall crime and a 40% decline in auto thefts.
  • Smith issued a public apology and accepted the mayor’s open invitation to visit Memphis in person.
  • Meanwhile, Danny Green cited the city’s less picturesque environment and the Grizzlies’ recent performance slump as factors in free-agent hesitancy.