Stephen A. Smith Stirs Debate With Call For Domesticated Women Who Cook

Stephen A. Smith tells Cam Newton sex appeal tops his dating checklist — and he wants a “domesticated” woman.

Stephen A. Smith went on Cam Newton's YouTube show earlier this month and basically laid out his dating checklist like he was calling first take on his own love life. It was blunt, a little old-school, and very much designed to rattle people. He knew it, and he did not care.

Smith, 58, started by ranking what matters most in a partner, and yes, he put looks at the top. Newton, 37, laughed more than once as Smith kept pushing his point. For context: Newton has made his own headlines for comments about women in the past, including arguing that a woman's value decreases with children. So, that room was already primed for takes.

• What he says he wants: first 'sex appeal,' then 'conversation and intellect,' and then 'domesticated.'

"Somebody needs to say that. We need to stop that s***. This assault against masculinity, it's going to end with this."
"...if I walk through my crib and you there? I better not smell Pine-Sol."

That 'domesticated' line was not a slip. Smith doubled down after Newton laughed, saying he can cook but doesn't want to. In his words, he'll pay for the groceries, he'll take you out every week, but the only thing he wants to make for himself is a bowl of cereal. He even framed it as a deal-breaker: if he has to handle the cooking himself, he questioned why he would need a partner at all. He admitted it can read as chauvinistic, and shrugged anyway, adding that he'll take care of everything else.

Then came the part that's going to get clipped to death: he said if he walks into his place and smells Pine-Sol, that's a problem. Translation: if you're at his home and cleaning but not cooking, he isn't into it. He compared it to his sister's place, saying that when his sister knows he is coming over, he smells food the moment he walks in. If a romantic partner is in his life and he smells cleaning products instead, he said that will not last. His stance: go find the guy who doesn't mind that; he hopes that guy can offer what he is offering.

Newton tried to jump in during the monologue, but Smith kept rolling. When asked if his ideal partner also works, Smith said yes — because he doesn't want someone home all day thinking about what he is doing. He wants her busy with life. That said, he still expects a hot meal waiting for him most of the time. His words: the vast majority of the time, he wants it home-cooked, and hot.

Smith wrapped it with a promise and a warning: he'll give more than he gets, but he is going to get something back — or else — and he is not apologizing to anyone for saying so.