In a recent episode of Club Shay Shay, former NFL player Shannon Sharpe interviewed comedian Katt Williams, and the conversation quickly went viral. Sharpe revealed had been trying to secure the interview for years, and when it finally happened, it exceeded everyone's expectations.
Shannon then addressed the critics about how he conducted the interview, and he pointed out that he is not a journalist but rather a conversationalist. His goal is to provide a safe space for his guests to speak their minds and share their truth. He added that it seems that Williams took full advantage of this opportunity, expressing thoughts and opinions that had been brewing in him for a long time.
Some viewers criticized Sharpe for not pushing back or asking follow-up questions during the interview. However, Sharpe defended himself by explaining that he is not in the business of hard-hitting journalism. He aims to facilitate open and honest conversations, not provocative interrogations.
He stated, "You decide — who do you agree with? It’s not my decision to make! I never said I was a journalist! I never professed to be a journalist! I’m an entertainer. If you want hard-hitting questions, ’60 Minutes’ is the platform for you. ‘Dateline.’ ’48 Hours.’ Go to Lester Holt. Go to someone that does that."
Sharpe pointed out that he has interviewed many other high-profile guests, including Magic Johnson, Steve Harvey, and Ricky Smiley, without receiving any criticism for his interviewing style. It was only with Williams' interview that the backlash started. Sharpe believes this is because of the controversial nature of the topics that were discussed.
He spoke about how important it is to allow iconic figures like Williams to share their truth without interruption. Sharpe acknowledged that it was a difficult decision to make but ultimately decided to let Williams speak freely, as it was what he came on the show to do. You can hear more above.
Source: Youtube
