ESPN is facing right-wing backlash for what some perceive to be a mere slap on the wrist of “SportsCenter” anchor Jemele Hill for tweeting that President Trump is a White supremacist.
On Monday, the 41-year old ignited a firestorm when she accused Trump of practicing White supremacy and imparted some her other erm, reservations about the president. Hill, who has been with ESPN since 2006, currently hosts the 6 pm edition of Sports Center. She formerly served as a co-host of two of the network’s other shows Numbers Never Lie and His & Hers.
Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 11, 2017
Trump is the most ignorant, offensive president of my lifetime. His rise is a direct result of white supremacy. Period.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 11, 2017
While it’s difficult to detect the lie in the Detroit native’s tweets for some, others are big mad at the anchor for expressing her political preferences while working for a nonpartisan network. ESPN issued a statement on Tuesday saying Hill’s comments were “inappropriate” and not reflective of their views. But some weren’t content with the temperate nature of the response and went so far as to call for a boycott of the station.
Boycott ESPN. Jemele Hill can call Trump a "white supremacist" but if a host said Obama was an "Islamic terrorist" they'd be fired. #TCOT
— Jeff Kuhner (@TheKuhnerReport) September 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/DeplorableGil/status/907956655115128832
https://twitter.com/VeteransTake/status/907924638352764928
Done with ESPN. No punishment for Jemele Hill after what they did to Curt Schilling? Theres other sports networks. #BoycottESPN.
— Carmine Sabia (@CarmineSabia) September 13, 2017
Here's why @espn sucks:
You can call Trump a white supremacist and still keep your job. But call Obama divisive? Your fired.#BoycottESPN
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) September 13, 2017
But then there’s Black Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Negreauxdamus/status/907939131103293441
Jemele Hill is from Detroit. Of course she's going to keep it real! ✊🏾
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/cthagod/status/907943508123815936
Colin Kaepernick also showed his solidarity with Hill.
We are with you @jemelehill ✊🏾
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 13, 2017
On Wednesday, Hill responded to the backlash on Twitter.
So, to address the elephant in the room … #Facts pic.twitter.com/RTrIDD87ut
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 14, 2017
Wonder if these folks were as upset about Trump being labeled a White supremacist as they were when he gave that mild-mannered response to the actual acts of White supremacy that took place in Charlottesville in August.