ESPN says that it has accepted the apology of Jemele Hill for tweeting that President Trump and his followers are "white supremacists."
Earlier this week, the co-host of ESPN's “SC6 with Michael and Jemele" fired off a series of tweets calling the President a "bigot" and "white supremacist."
Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 11, 2017
Hill apologized for her tweets on Wednesday.
"My comments on Twitter expressed my personal beliefs." She wrote on Twitter. "My regret is that my comments and the public way I made them painted ESPN in an unfair light."
So, to address the elephant in the room ... #Facts pic.twitter.com/RTrIDD87ut
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 14, 2017
The network issued a followup statement after her apology and said that Hill has a right to her personal beliefs, but said that they are not reflective of the company's opinions or beliefs.
"She has acknowledged that her tweets crossed that line and has apologized for doing so. We accept her apology," they wrote.
ESPN has been under intense scrutiny after they pulled their broadcaster Robert Lee off air “as the tragic events in Charlottesville were unfolding" in August.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is calling for the termination of an ESPN anchor after she called President Donald Trump a white supremacist on Twitter.
“That is one of the more outrageous comments that anybody could make and certainly is something that is a fireable offense by ESPN,” Sanders said on Wednesday.
This comes after Jemele Hill, who co-hosts a ESPN show called “SC6 with Michael and Jemele," fired off a series of Tweets denouncing Trump and calling his supporters white supremacists.
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
The height of white privilege is being able to ✌🏾ignore✌🏾his white supremacy, because it's of no threat to you. Well, it's a threat to me.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 11, 2017
EPSN soon issued a statement in response to Smith's remarks.
“The comments on Twitter from Jemele Hill regarding the president do not represent the position of ESPN,” the network said. “We have addressed this with Jemele and she recognizes her actions were inappropriate.”
ESPN on Tuesday distanced itself from anchor Jemele Hill’s tweets calling President Trump “a bigot” and “a white supremacist.”
“The comments on Twitter from Jemele Hill regarding the president do not represent the position of ESPN,” the network tweeted from its public relation’s department’s account.
“We have addressed this with Jemele and she recognizes her actions were inappropriate,” ESPN added of Hill, a co-host on the 6 p.m. broadcast of the network’s “SportsCenter” program.
ESPN Statement on Jemele Hill: pic.twitter.com/3kfexjx9zQ
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) September 12, 2017
Hill on Monday had a series of Twitter exchanges with other users that involved her harshly criticizing Trump.
“Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/other white supremacists,” she said in one tweet.
“Trump is the most ignorant, offensive president of my lifetime,” Hill added in another post. “His rise is a direct result of white supremacy. Period.”
Hill added in a third tweet that “Donald Trump is a bigot” before going on to deride the president’s supporters.
“The height of white privilege is being able to ignore his white supremacy, because it’s of no threat to you,” she said. “Well, it’s a threat to me.”
Some Twitter users on Wednesday praised Hill for singling out Trump, while others lambasted her decision instead.
@jemelehill remember whites pay your salary so if you hate our race so much then go work for BET! You are flat out a racist !!
— Gene Oney (@GENEO1963) September 13, 2017
You are a racist for calling him a bigot. It kills me that these holier than thou checkmarks think their opinion matters to everyday people.
— Shadow Defender (@MercenaryforKek) September 13, 2017
So as an organization-to not support @jemelehill is tantamount to admitting you support a proven racist, sexist, bigot. Shame on you ESPN.
— Apex39 (@HP_Owner9) September 13, 2017
@jemelehill taking a stand. Good for her. pic.twitter.com/VQH8Lz90NJ
— Twoscoopz (@dontgetscooped) September 13, 2017
ESPN is owned by Disney, and neither company elaborated on a possible punishment for Hill, who was on Tuesday night’s broadcast of “SportsCenter” like normal.
Former National Football League (NFL) quarterback Colin Kaepernick, meanwhile, on Tuesday voiced support for Hill on Twitter.
We are with you @jemelehill ✊🏾
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 13, 2017
Kaepernick remains unsigned after playing with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2016 in a situation that remains controversial in the football world.
The professional athlete began kneeling during the National Anthem last year to protest police brutality and racial injustice.
Supporters say Kaepernick is making a legitimate stand for social justice, while critics charge he is acting unpatriotic instead.
These celebrities ended up deleting their Twitter accounts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
