“Let’s not let the public narrative re-write who we are or what we stand for. Let’s not be divided in that pursuit. I will need your support if we are to succeed.”
In the current political divide in the United States, it seems that everyone has something to say. Social media has offered up a plethora of opinions, bias, fake news, and activism for just about any subject one can imagine. Public figures and celebrities have also played a pivotal role in the dissemination of information. With large numbers of followers, they have a very large reach and influence. It’s no secret that with the politics that has permeated the NFL, sportscasting has taken a political turn.
Case in point, Colin Kaepernick, a man who needs no introduction. Not only has Kaepernick single-handedly started a trend of protesting that has turned a lot of NFL fans away. As Kaepernick remains unemployed, other players have picked up the cause. Naturally, this has caused some backlash from many who just want to watch some football. The over-saturation of political nonsense that has taken over the game becomes tiring.
I’m not even a fan of football and I am tired of all the politics that are happening on the field. So I can only imagine how red-blooded, fantasy football loving Americans feel about it.
The latest political statement comes from ESPN anchor Jemele Hill, who took to her Twitter account to call President Trump a “white supremacist” in a series of posts that drew criticism from social media users, her employers, and elicited a response from President Trump himself. Following Hill’s controversial posts, ESPN president John Skipper issued a memo to staff.
According to the memo—which was made public—Skipper reminded staff that ESPN is not a political organization. While he acknowledged the issues currently being debated in the United States, he had another message for them. “In light of recent events, we need to remind ourselves that we are a journalistic organization and that we should not do anything that undermines that position,” Skipper wrote. He continued to say that personal comments also reflect on ESPN, reminding staff that the network has a social media policy.
The election of President Donald Trump seems to have sparked an interest in politics that was lacking in previous years. More people have educated themselves and taken an active interest in the issues facing America. However, the comments made by Jemele Hill illustrate the importance of researching multiple sources for information on a topic.
I’m not a sports person, so I didn’t know who Jamele Hill was before her viral posts. While she has a right to speak, which I fully recognize and support, she’s in a position where her opinions have the potential to bring unwanted attention to her employers—which they have in this case. I’m not saying that public figures shouldn’t have an opinion. I’m saying that referring to our sitting president as a “white supremacist” probably isn’t good for business.
It seems that John Skipper also has concerns, as he wrote, “Let’s not let the public narrative re-write who we are or what we stand for. Let’s not be divided in that pursuit. I will need your support if we are to succeed.”
