Jemele Hill Explains ‘Racist’ Question to Jake Paul

Jemele Hill is never one to back down from a controversy, especially one she creates for herself. The former ESPN SportsCenter host is now hosting a show with Cari Champion on Vice, and they were interviewing youtube sensation turned boxer Jake Paul.  The controversy erupted when they asked Paul if it was racist to knock out a black man.

The clip immediately went viral.

Jemele Hill, Cari Champion Asked Jake Paul If It’s Racist That He Beat Nate Robinsonhttps://t.co/i3r5rhW4Aq

— SideAction (@SideActionHQ) December 9, 2020

Now Jemele is doing her best to explain what they were thinking by asking the question.

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See below:

We were. I’m now laughing that people actually thought we were serious. https://t.co/mZlsmRrzps

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) December 9, 2020

It’s a late night talk show that comes on at 11:30p. It ain’t supposed to be PBS. I also didn’t realize I wasn’t permitted to joke about race just because I also have the range to talk about it seriously. https://t.co/UPr7oZpE45

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) December 9, 2020

I can accept that. That’s fair criticism. But people are actually criticizing me off the idea it’s a serious question.

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) December 9, 2020

You can see the video below:

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pic.twitter.com/A7AUW5FKpG

— trevor trout (@totaltroutmove) December 9, 2020

Totally get that it’s a late night show, but the question didn’t completely come off as a joke. And Jake Paul certainly didn’t feel that way, he answered as seriously and earnestly as possible.

Jemele Hill has a history of race baiting, so naturally people weren’t totally sold on it being a joke question.  Maybe joking about race just isn’t all that funny, at any time of the day.

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