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Who is Tiffany Cross? MSNBC host slammed for saying White people don't get Will Smith's 'NUANCED' slap

Cross said 'it is utterly ridiculous to center this conversation in the opinions of White folks' in a now-viral discussion about slapgate

Will Smith's Oscar slapgate controversy appears to be the only thing people can talk about these days. It's become so popular, that Chris Rock was panned for not addressing it in his first stand-up gig post the slap on March 30 in Boston. Numerous celebrities have since weighed in, but on April 3, 2022, we might have gotten our weirdest take yet, thanks to MSNBC host Tiffany Cross.

Before we get to Cross though, here's a quick look at some other responses. Richard Williams said, "We don’t condone anyone hitting anyone else unless it’s in self-defense." Amy Schumer called it a "f-----g bummer" and a sample of "toxic masculinity." Controversial comedian OJ Simpson also weighed in, saying "I understood the feeling." While a few have sidestepped outright criticism, it appears Smith knew what he did was wrong since he chose to resign from the Academy before they could punish him. 

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However, right up there with the oddest takes on what is now known as "slapgate" is definitely Cross' version. The host certainly raised a few eyebrows online after she discussed slapgate on April 3, during a talk show interview with Yvette Nicole Brown and Michael Harriot. 

Who is Tiffany Cross?

Host of 'The Cross Connection', Tiffany Cross is a journalist, political analyst, and author who has been with the network since December 2020. Originally from Ohio, Cross is an alumnus of Clark Atlanta University, which led to her first gig with CNN. She also worked at BET Networks and co-founded The Beat DC. Cross spent 2020 as a fellow at Harvard's Institute of Politics, before joining MSNBC. 

She got her big break after becoming one of the two anchors to replace Joy Reid on weekends, after becoming a regular guest of Reid's show 'AM Joy'. In 2020, she also released her first book 'Say It Louder!: Black Voters, Our Voices, and the Shaping of American Democracy'. Known for her work on race and politics, Cross has not drawn as much attention as Reid, but all that changed after April 3. 

At the beginning of her show, Cross opened by saying, "I think it is utterly ridiculous to center this conversation in the opinions of White folks." Columnist Harriot then chimed in, saying slapgate was an example of "how Black people relate to each other" in a way White people "do not understand." Cross supported that sentiment, adding she would "try to put this in context for our white fellow countrymen as best I can." She then said, "There’s a nuance to what happened." 

'I don't know how to process that statement'

The statement was met with swift trolling and condemnation, as social media hit back at Cross. "I say all “white people” should take Tiffany Cross’ advice and since we don’t understand black people, not go to any movie that has a black lead actor. We are just too damn stupid to understand black jokes or black violence. I’ll bet @willsmith would very much appreciate this," one user tweeted. Another said, "Tiffany Cross goes FULL RACIST and claims that white and black brains are wired differently. She claims that black people are wired for violence, whereas white people are wired for talking things out."

"@MSNBC host Tiffany Cross said “white folks” don’t get to have an opinion on the Will Smith slap. WTH??? She’s lost her mind. Like everyone on MSNBC, she hates white people," one person declared. One user replied, "MSNBC host, Tiffany Cross, just said white people ‘do not understand’ Will Smith slap. I don't know how to process that statement at all." A third slammed, "Hey Tiffany Cross please tell Michael Harriott and Yvette Nicolle Brown that black folks aren’t the only race that knows the difference between a Will Smith slap vs a punch. Geez you guys @MSNBC are so full of crap it’s laughable. Nice try though."