Sports journalist Jemele Hill, a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, will soon leave "SportsCenter" but remain at ESPN, according to a Friday report.
Sourced familiar with the move say Hill is moving to "The Undefeated," an ESPN blog that "explores the intersections of race, sports and culture," the Hollywood Reporter reported. Her last day hosting "SportsCenter" will be Friday, Feb. 2. Michael Smith, Hill's current co-host, will host the 6 p.m. show solo after her departure.
While Hill has been a controversial figure over the past year, sources say she asked ESPN management for the change. Conversations with management are reportedly mostly concluded and an official announcement from ESPN is expected soon.
Hill became the subject of controversy for a series of tweets she posted criticizing Trump in September of 2017, calling him "ignorant" and a "white supremacist," while adding he is "unqualified" and "unfit" to be president.
ESPN released a statement shortly after she made these tweets, calling Hill's posts "inappropriate." Hill issued a statement saying that the tweets expressed her personal beliefs and painted ESPN in an unfair light.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called Hill's tweets a "fireable offense." Trump tweeted shortly after that ESPN should apologize to America for its "untruths."
ESPN suspended Hill for two weeks less than a month later when she tweeted about Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones's statements that he would bench any player who knelt during the national anthem. She recommended that fans who disagreed with Jones' statements boycott companies that advertised with the Cowboys.
Trump responded on Twitter two days later, saying Hill contributed to ESPN's falling ratings.
ESPN updated its social media guidelines in the wake of Hill's suspension. The new guidelines clarified that "commentaries on relevant sports-related issues are appropriate," but that employees should "refrain from overt partisanship or endorsement of particular candidates, politicians, or political parties," and should avoid "inflammatory rhetoric."
The New York Times reported the incident did not prompt Hill's first suspension. In a 2008 column, she wrote that "rooting for the Celtics is like saying Hitler was a victim." After the incident, she was suspended for one week.