Commentator Tavis Smiley has quit “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” after 12 years, citing fatigue and a lot of projects that awaited him. But Joyner said Smiley’s departure is related to the harsh criticism he received from black listeners of the show, after he had criticized presidency candidate Barack Obama.

“The real reason is that he can't take the hate he's been getting regarding the Barack issue -- hate from the black people that he loves so much,” Joyner wrote on his blog.

“He (Smiley) loves black America and black America has been very critical of him,” Joyner said on his show, also mentioning he hoped Smiley changed his mind about his resignation.

Smiley criticized Obama for not attending the annual “State of the Black Union” conference in February, offering Michelle Obama, the senator’s wife, to replace him. Smiley declared publicly that he could not accept Obama’s offer. Eventually, Hillary Clinton was the only presidential candidate who participated in the conference.

Since that day, Smiley received a lot of critical phone calls and e-mails that hurt him a lot, Joyner said. He also requested Smiley’s fans to show him their love and respect, so that he felt supported.

"He loves black America and black America has been very critical of him," Joyner said of Smiley. "It hurts. It hurt me to hear black Americans criticize him."

Joyner declared he was disappointed by the listeners’ harsh reaction. If someone does not praise Obama nowadays, that makes that someone an Obama hater, he complained.

Smiley, who has been on the show since 1996, shocked many of his fans when he announced his departure. Many of them already sent e-mails and letters expressing their regret concerning Smiley’s decision.