Comedian and podcast host Dave Smith torched Ben Shapiro over what he called “hardcore bigotry,” also accusing the conservative commentator of hypocrisy when it comes to his objections to former Daily Wire host Candace Owens.
Smith was a guest on this week’s edition of Mediaite’s new Press Club podcast, hosted by Aidan McLaughlin.
When McLaughlin questioned Smith about his relationship with Owens despite her “clearly anti-Semitic” and “obviously insane” commentary, Smith defended his appearances with Owens. He also argued that Shapiro, who founded the Daily Wire, which ousted Owens as a host for her commentary, is guilty of “bigotry” when it comes to certain groups:
Aidan McLaughlin: But specifically with Candace, lately she’s been getting a lot of heat for commentary that is quite clearly anti-Semitic. The last few years her commentary has gotten really extreme. She staked her own reputation on Brigitte Macron, Emmanuel Macron’s wife, being a man, which is obviously insane. Does that stuff give you pause about her?
No, it wouldn’t stop me from engaging with her. And it’s funny because there’s so many little worlds out there, but both me and Candace Owens were being sharply criticized by Nick Fuentes earlier this week because he does not agree with you, and he does not think we hate the Jews enough. And so there’s all these different angles of looking at this stuff.
Look, I’m a Jewish kid who grew up with a single mom in Park Slope, Brooklyn. And my whole life was living in Brooklyn and then being a stand-up comedian, I am a product of almost the most diverse lifestyle and background you could have. I don’t even know exactly the best way to put this. I don’t think anybody is without their bigotry, but I really don’t hold ignorant prejudices about any group of people because I’ve been around every group of people.
I don’t have as strong an allergy to prejudice as a lot of people in this country do. I don’t think if somebody’s like, I don’t really like Jewish people. Like, okay, that’s your right. I’m probably not going to be your friend, but I’m not against having a conversation with you. I don’t think that’s correct that you have that view, but again, you’re not lying people into a war that’s going to kill a million people. It’s just a view I disagree with.
Personally, in every conversation I’ve ever had with Candace Owens, both on air and off air, she’s bent over backwards to be like, I genuinely have nothing against Jewish people. I’ve loved Jewish people my whole life. My roommate that I used to live with is Jewish. I grew up going to Bat Mitzvahs all the time. I take her at her word on that. I think there are some conspiracies that she’s diving headfirst into, and I don’t really know how much any of them are right or wrong.
But I do find it very rich that Ben Shapiro and some of the stuff he’s said about Arabs, almost like Mr. Take The Gloves Off with every single group of people. Go watch some videos of Ben Shapiro talking about black people. He has no problem taking the gloves off and being like, here’s the problem with black people. This is what you guys do wrong. This is what you guys need to do. I’m like, wait, are you saying all black people don’t take care of their kids or something like that? And he’s like, no, I’m just looking at the statistics. So you’re okay playing that game. I don’t think it’s necessarily the worst thing in the world that he says some of those things. I don’t think it’s 100% true, but maybe some of it needs to be heard. But then if anybody were to ever do that with Jews, he’ll be the first, he turns into a woke leftist and starts just calling everybody a racist. I don’t believe in doing that.
I recall some deleted tweets about Arabs that…
I don’t even think they’re deleted. I think they’re still up there [Editor’s note: They are]. I think he apologized for them but left them up there. It was literally something about how Arabs like to play in mud and blow things up. And Jews like to build civilization. Real deal, hardcore bigotry stuff!
Whatever platform I go on, I’m going to say what I believe. I’m never going to find a platform with someone that 100% agrees with everything I say or I 100% agree with them. But I really have enjoyed my conversations with Tucker and Candace, and I like them both as people.
Watch above via Mediaite’s new Press Club podcast. Watch the full episode here.
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