The hosts of “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday spent an entire segment grumbling about ESPN’s Jemele Hill winning a prestigious journalism award only to later issue a correction after its guest went off on a tangent of untruths.
Lawrence Jones, the editor-in-chief of college news source Campus Reform, appeared on the early morning show to express his outrage over Hill being named the 2018 “Journalist of the Year” by the National Association of Black Journalists. Hill, the former host of ESPN “SportsCenter,” faced tough criticism earlier this year after calling President Donald Trump a white supremacist. She, along with her co-host Michael Smith, were briefly booted from the sports show following the controversy.
The former sportscaster has since redeemed herself and now serves as a columnist and senior correspondent for ESPN’s “The Undefeated,” which discusses the intersections of sports, race and culture.
Jones kicked off the segment by accusing NABJ of applauding “unemployment” by naming Hill as its journalist of the year, suggesting she didn’t deserve such an honor.
“The bottom line is that she’s unemployed from her hosting her own TV show,” Jones said. “This isn’t something we should be promoting.”
Jemele Hill named 2018 NABJ Journalist of the Year https://t.co/KMuxC7lYyI pic.twitter.com/7pgGCixdTk
— #NABJ Headquarters ✊🏾🖊️🎙️💻 📷 🎥 📝 🔈 (@NABJ) May 21, 2018
It should be noted that Hill is in fact employed, by ESPN.
“At the end of the day, I want people who look like me [and] people who looked up to her, to have someone on TV that’s gonna forever show them that they can do it. Now she can’t do that. Now, she’s unemployed,” he continued.
“Fox and Friends” co-host Steve Doocy chimed in with his own criticism, stating, ” … Now, apparently, journalism looks a lot like activism,” seemingly taking aim at Hill’s outspokenness on issues of politics and race.
“Speaking of audience, when they pulled her off the show, the ratings on the show went up,” co-host Ainsley Earhardt added. “Apparently this controversial ESPN host deserves a big award.”
Jones continued to mock Hill and claimed she no longer had a platform. According to Twitter, the sports writer currently has over 1.3 million social media followers.
“How can she donate to those young black folks if she no longer has a platform?” Jones gripped. “There is no Jemele anymore.”
Hours later, the conservative news show issued a correction stating that Hill is employed.
On the show this morning a guest stated Jemele Hill was unemployed. Correction: Hill is currently employed by ESPN.
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) May 22, 2018
Hill had some fun with Fox’s major fail.
Can’t wait until my unemployment check kicks in 😂 https://t.co/eAFFN66bkb
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 22, 2018
“(NABJ) is celebrating unemployment.” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I’m not unemployed, people. I left ONE show. But thank you guys for giving me my laugh of the day. I needed this. https://t.co/ux1xh15NEx
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 22, 2018
