“When Tavis Smiley walked away from his National Public Radio show last month, he did not go quietly. In a series of interviews, he cast aspersions on his former employer, telling Time: ‘It is ironic that a Republican president has an administration that is more inclusive and more diverse than a so-called liberal-media-elite network.'” But NPR claims that the real reason Smiley declined to return to its air was a disagreement over salary and creative control. Smiley isn’t exactly denying the charge, but claims that the network’s unwillingness to meet his demands showed a lack of respect, and implies that race was a factor.