Words by Megan Ambers
On Monday (October 9) Sports channel ESPN announced the suspension of SportsCenter co-host Jemele Hill due to a “second violation of our social media guidelines.” The suspension stems from comments Hill tweeted the night before of Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones. Jones stated that any NFL player who disrespects the flag will not play. The one tweet read: “Jerry Jones also has created a problem for his players, specifically the black ones. If they don’t kneel, some will see them as sellouts.”
Jerry Jones also has created a problem for his players, specifically the black ones. If they don't kneel, some will see them as sellouts.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) October 9, 2017
It did not stop there. More tweets followed suggesting fans contact advertisers to pull out:
If you strongly reject what Jerry Jones said, the key is his advertisers. Don't place the burden squarely on the players. https://t.co/Gc48kchkuv
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) October 9, 2017
This play always work. Change happens when advertisers are impacted. If you feel strongly about JJ's statement, boycott his advertisers. https://t.co/LFXJ9YQe74
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) October 9, 2017
Or, how about not patronizing the advertisers who support the Cowboys? You can watch and do that, right? https://t.co/duPNqxFta7
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) October 9, 2017
The news of the two-week suspension caused quite an uproar on social media from many, including Power 105.1’s Charlamagne Tha God.
AND HE LET THEM HAVE IT!
The Breakfast Club’s host took to his Instagram to say that the suspension of Hill is a direct result of speaking truth to power and the consequences that come from it. “You can’t say sh*t on ESPN without outrage, you can’t say sh*t on social media. What the hell y’all want her to do be? A mime?” asked the Host. “They really sending a message and that message is that there is a high cost to free speech. Are you willing to pay the price?”
Other big names such as, Activist Shaun King, Comedian Chris D’Elia and Rapper J. Cole also tweeted in support of Hill after the news broke.
“Jemele Hill has been suspended for two weeks for a second violation of our social media guidelines. She previously acknowledged letting her colleagues and company down with an impulsive tweet. In the aftermath, all employees were reminded of how much individual tweets may reflect negatively on ESPN and that such action would have consequences. Hence this decision,” an ESPN spokesman said in a statement.
The ESPN host took to her twitter account after the comments from Dallas Cowboys Coach Jones:
Jerry Jones also has created a problem for his players, specifically the black ones. If they don't kneel, some will see them as sellouts.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) October 9, 2017
Hill became one of the evening anchors of SportsCenter in February of this year. Last month, in a series of tweets, Hill criticized President Trump, calling him a “White Supremacist”.
ESPN released a statement shortly after saying Hill’s comments “do not represent the position of ESPN.” Hill joined ESPN in November
