Jemele Hill and Cari Champion have never shied away from controversy. But in the wake of the controversy created from their “racist” question to YouTube star Jake Paul, Hill has addressed the theory that she was joking.
via: Complex
Jemele Hill and Cari Champion are facing backlash after seemingly trying to turn Jake Paul’s victory over Nate Robinson into an issue about race.
During a recent appearance on Cari & Jemele (Won’t) Stick to Sports, Jake Paul was asked by Hill if his knockout was racist.
Question of the week: was @jakepaul KO to Nate Robinson racist? ? pic.twitter.com/ogSqHj764s
— VICE TV (@VICETV) December 4, 2020
Initially, Paul was a good sport about the comment, shrugging it off and explaining that he trains to win. But when Champion asked the question again, a visibly annoyed Paul shot back. “Stop asking me that,” he said. “I said ‘no.’ That’s a shitty question. It’s a sport. … How does this have anything to do with race?”
https://twitter.com/BigHseidler/status/1336356292881952772?s=20
While Hill and Champion’s laughs throughout the segment suggest they were perhaps joking, people were quick to pounce on the duo for their line of questioning.
https://twitter.com/hipposagainst/status/1336524175536689152?s=20
https://twitter.com/FindMeTN/status/1336514024159272961?s=20
Is it racist for white people to win competitive sports matches? ?? https://t.co/2RPAvrJ4dN
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) December 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/DecaturDane/status/1336526060226220033?s=20
Jake Paul being the voice of reason in a interview with Cari Champion and Jemele Hill is something I thought I’d never type. https://t.co/Shmx65Czhy
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) December 9, 2020
“Y’all, @jemelehill and I were trolling a troll with permission. This wasn’t an interview with weight,” Champion wrote. “It was sarcastic- y’all need context? Bc if y’all can’t hear the laughing, the bad WiFi connection- smh. So for the outraged!”
NOW RACISM IS SERIOUS! Okkkk. Lol
— Cari Champion (@CariChampion) December 9, 2020
“NOW RACISM IS SERIOUS!” Champion added. Hill also joined the online discourse.
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
“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,” Hill wrote before reiterating Champion’s point.
It seems like it was a joke, giving Cari and Jemele the benefit of the doubt this time.
