ESPN panelist Stephen A. Smith has been roundly panned for his comments on domestic violence, in which he suggested women should do what they can not to "provoke" their partners into abusing them.
On Monday, Smith apologized for his comments, but MSNBC pundit Goldie Taylor wasn't about to let him off the hook.
In a series of tweets, the journalist explained exactly why his comments were so dangerous. She opened up about her own experience being stabbed by an abusive partner, and revealed the victim-blaming she suffered -- even from her own family.
On top of the physical abuse, Taylor was also financially abused by her partner. According to her testimony, he made her turn over her paycheck each week and would not allow her to have a credit card, a common tactic used by abusers to control and isolate their victims.
Here are a selection of Taylor's tweets; visit her twitter feed to read the entire conversation.
For those of us who lived through the utter terror of domestic violence, @stephenasmith words were all too familiar.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
That, my friends, is the real danger in @stephenasmith words.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
You see, @stephenasmith told his audience that women who 'provoke' attacks are fair game. Many still believe that.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
A few nights ago, I told my story. I was young and in a violent relationship +
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
My then live-in boyfriend beat me regularly. My family, including my brothers, did nothing. +
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
My late grandmother said: What did you do to make him hit you?
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I have been dragged around by my hair b/c I shrank his t-shirts in the wash.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I was chased and beaten on another occasion b/c he caught me packing to leave.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I wasn't allowed to have money or credit cards. He have me just enough for groceries. I turned over my paycheck every week.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
My family said I was lucky to have a man and that if I would just 'act right' he wouldn't hurt me.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
Then he lost his job. The beatings became more severe. I had him arrested and moved back to my mother's house.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
He got out of jail, caught me in the driveway and forced me into his car.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
He drove for hours, telling me how much he loved me and how sorry he was.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I tried to leave again. He came home just as I was leaving. The look in his eyes told me to run.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
He slugged me in the face w/ a closed fist. I was knocked old cold. I weighed 95 lbs at the time. He was double my size and weight.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
When I came to, I grabbed a rotary telephone and swung for the fences. Blood spilled everywhere.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I didn't realize I was half naked. I ran for the door.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I felt a sharp pain in back, in my upper left shoulder. I could feel the wetness, but I kept running.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I beat on every neighbor's door until someone let me in. The woman let me inside and called police.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
Paramedics arrived and took me to the hospital. I was hysterical. Doctors had to sedate me.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I was interviewed by two officers that night-- a man and a woman.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
The woman officer said: He said you hit him w/ a telephone and wants to file charges.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I had been stabbed. The wound was deep and long.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
He was arrested that night. They let him plead to reckless conduct.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
He later went to prison for killing another woman. Manslaughter was the charge. He is free today.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I heard from him a few years ago on FB. He apologized for hurting me. Said he still loved me + wanted to make up for lost time.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I told him to get lost. Blocked all contact.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
It's been 28 years. I still have a smooth keloid scar on my back.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
It is my deepest prayer that no one, no man or woman, has to live in that terror.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I have long since forgiven my family-- and myself. I even had to find a way to forgive him. I needed to learn how to live and love again.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
What happened to me wasn't due to some 'provocation', but if I could've killed him in his sleep I would have.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
Today, I know that hurt people hurt other people. He came to our relationship a broken man.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
As Chris Rock says: You don't meet people. You meet their agent.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
The man I met was well educated, good looking and charismatic. The man I lived with was a monster.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
Victims don't often run, b/c there is nowhere to go. Abusers build an emotional +!financial prison.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
Unfortunately, @stephenasmith and his supporters are not alone. So many police officers, prosecutors and judges share that thinking.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
Years back, a friend was tied up + dosed w/ gasoline. Her husband waved a book of matches in her face. He thought she was cheating.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I am stronger now both because of and despite what happened to me.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I had planned to release a video statement, but my lips wouldn't move.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
So if I am sometimes rude or seem dismissive, I apologize. I am speaking through my pain.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
Protection orders get violated every day.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
I use the platform available to me, b/c the vast majority of domestic violence victims don't have a voice.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) July 28, 2014
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.