Co-host of ESPN’s 6 p.m. SportsCenter Jemele Hill crossed the line with a late-night tweet. At least that was the case according to ESPN management.
Hill was suspended by ESPN for two weeks after she went on Twitter last night to criticize Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for telling his players that they wouldn’t play if they did anything that was “disrespecting the flag.”
“If there is anything disrespecting the flag, then we will not play. Period,” Jones said, according to the Dallas Morning News. “We’re going to respect the flag, and I’m going to create the perception of it.”
Hill suggested that those opposed to Jones’s comments should boycott the franchise’s advertisers.
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
Jones owns the most valuable franchise in all of professional sports, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in August.
Hill tried to walk back her Sunday night tweet earlier today, but apparently it was too little, too late.
Just so we’re clear: I’m not advocating a NFL boycott. But an unfair burden has been put on players in Dallas & Miami w/ anthem directives.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) October 9, 2017
ESPN’s PR department tweeted out the following statement regarding Hill’s suspension:
ESPN’s Statement on Jemele Hill: pic.twitter.com/JkVoBVz7lv
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) October 9, 2017
Hill found herself in hot water last month after referring to Pres. Donald Trump as “a white supremacist.” Hill was attacked by many conservatives for her comments, and the White House called for her to be fired. ESPN decided not to take action at the time.
UPDATE: Hill’s SC6 co-host Michael Smith now won’t be anchoring tonight’s broadcast either. According to The Wrap, the decision was mutual between Smith and the network.