Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith sharply criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that recent developments have raised new questions about the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director's public guidance and leadership during the health crisis.

Smith said Fauci's recent appearance and testimony reflected poorly on the longtime public health official.

"This was not a good day for Dr. Fauci," Smith said. "He looks very bad, very bad."

Smith acknowledged that Fauci's legal team likely advised him on how to respond during questioning.

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"And yes, through the advice of his lawyers, and yes, your lawyers compel you to do something, and they probably wanted him to plead the fifth on many occasions before before he finally relented and did it yesterday."

Despite that, Smith argued that Fauci's role during the pandemic carried enormous responsibility because millions of Americans followed his recommendations.

"But the bottom line is, this man held dominions over the lives of a nation, if not the world, with what he was imploring and mandating, everybody was listening to him."

Smith then referenced comments made by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during an interview the previous evening.

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"As Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pointed out on Hannity last night, he accused Fauci of misleading the country when it came to mask."

According to Smith, Fauci's recommendations on face coverings evolved into increasingly strict guidance.

"Fauci was damn near encouraging us to wear two and three masks at a time," Smith said. "We damn near could breathe."

Smith also revisited guidance encouraging Americans to maintain six feet of distance from one another during the pandemic.

"How about the six foot social distancing? We can't ignore that."

He questioned the scientific basis for the recommendation.

"Where you get that from?"

Smith noted that Fauci later acknowledged the guidance was not based on scientific evidence.

"He later admitted that it wasn't backed by science."

He argued that many of the pandemic policies appeared to have been developed without sufficient supporting evidence.

"You're just coming up with this stuff."

Smith also criticized other aspects of the government's COVID-19 response.

"The lockdowns, the natural immunities, the vaccine's ability to prevent infection and transmission."

He further claimed that Fauci did not publicly disclose suffering a pulmonary infarction after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

"Fauci's pulmonary infarction following vaccination that he didn't reveal to the public, but he wrote about it in his diary."

Smith summarized his concerns by saying, "This is all shady shit."

He also questioned why, in his view, Democratic leaders have not been more critical of Fauci's actions.

"It is, and the Democrats have nothing to say."

Smith argued that elected officials supported policies that had significant consequences for many Americans.

"Wasn't it the Democrats that was enforcing stuff?"

He pointed to the economic and personal hardships many people experienced during the pandemic.

"People lost their jobs."

"Businesses went out of business."

"Folks' quality of life was severely compromised."

Smith concluded by reflecting on the atmosphere surrounding public debate over Fauci's recommendations during the pandemic.

"We had reached a point in our society where, if you even questioned Fauci, as opposed to celebrate him, you were in trouble."

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