ESPN has suspended Jemele Hill for two weeks after the Sports Center anchor used social media to urge advertisers to boycott the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Hill is weeks removed from a controversy where she referred to President Donald Trump as a white supremacist in a Twitter post.
A statement issued by ESPN Monday read: “Jemele Hill has been suspended for two weeks for a second violation of our social media guidelines. She previously acknowledged letting her colleagues and company down with an impulsive tweet. In the aftermath, all employees were reminded of how individual tweets may reflect negatively on ESPN and that such actions would have consequences. Hence the decision.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Sunday that players who do not stand for the national anthem would be benched. Hill tweeted during the Cowboys-Packers game Sunday that “This play always work. Change happens when advertisers are impacted. If you feel strongly about JJ's statement, boycott his advertisers.”
ESPN paid more than $15 billion in 2011 for the broadcast rights to NFL games.
Many NFL players have knelt during the national anthem in protest of social injustice and police brutality. 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began the protest last season. The movement has intensified this season after Trump complained about the practice and said those you do kneel are sons of bitches and should be fired.
Vice President Mike Pence left Sunday’s game between the 49ers and Colts after players knelt during the national anthem.
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