Jemele Hill and Cari Champion Respond to Backlash for Asking Jake Paul if Nate Robinson Knockout Was Racist

Jemelle Hill and Cari Champion responded after they received backlash for asking Jake Paul if his Nate Robinson knockout was an example of racism.

Jemele Hill (L) and Cari Champion
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Image via Getty/Robin Marchant/ESPN

Jemele Hill (L) and Cari Champion

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?"

Look, I don’t like Jake Paul in the slightest, but this is an absolute garbage question. Like I honestly don’t know why/how Cari Champion thought this was an intelligent thing to ask. pic.twitter.com/YcJtSJ0JFO

— Hunter Seidler (@BigHseidler) December 8, 2020

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.

Is it racist for white people to win competitive sports matches? 🤡🌎 https://t.co/2RPAvrJ4dN

— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) December 8, 2020

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. 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! For more context Thurs. at 1130pm on @VICETV 👀. pic.twitter.com/qwIAk2nuUT

— Cari Champion (@CariChampion) December 9, 2020

NOW RACISM IS SERIOUS! Okkkk. Lol

— Cari Champion (@CariChampion) 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

Eventually, Hill and Champion took to Twitter to clarify that the question was indeed a joke that just didn't land.

What she said.

The interview with Jake Paul IN FULL, FYI https://t.co/P4AWYk2qHy

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) 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!"

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

"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," Hill wrote before reiterating Champion's point. 

When someone tweeted that "the joke absolutely stunk and you kept doubling down," Hill responded by saying it was a "fair" criticism.

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

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