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ESPN is giving Stephen A. Smith a little timeout.

The “First Take” host will be off the air until next Wednesday following his comments Friday about women’s responsibility not to “provoke” domestic violence, while discussing the NFL’s two-game suspension of Ray Rice.

“ESPN announced today that Stephen A. Smith will not appear on ‘First Take’ or ESPN Radio for the next week. He will return to ESPN next Wednesday,” network spokesman Josh Krulewitz told media outlets in a statement.

ESPN did not term Smith’s time off a suspension, but regardless, he won’t be heard from over the next week.

Smith delivered a taped apology at the opening of Monday’s show and appeared normally on Tuesday morning before the announcement was made. Smith said his statements were poorly phrased and misinterpreted.

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