Sports

Sportscaster Mike Hill Was Told He Was ‘Too Ghetto’ For Promotion At ESPN

Mike Hill laid it out while speaking on racism at ESPN. Hill spoke about the racist culture at the network during his show on the Black News Channel on July 5.

Hill is currently a host on the morning show Start Your Day With Sharon And Mike and discussed the scandal when he noted how racist the culture was at ESPN.

He said Black folks went through hell at the network, and he himself was

 told by an executive that being “too ghetto” would keep him from moving up the ladder at ESPNHill retweeted a video from the show speaking on the racist experiences of himself and other Black people who have worked for ESPN.

“There has not been one Black person that has been on the air that I can think of that has not gone through hell at ESPN, said Hill. “When I was there, I was told, in a meeting with a talent executive, they said, ‘the reason you’re not moving up here at ESPN is because you’re too ghetto.’ This is from an executive, a talent executive there, an old white man.”

Hill said that he was also told by the ESPN executive that the network “already had one of those” about Stuart Scott.

Hill left ESPN back in 2013 after nine years and is happy with his new gig at the Black News Channel. The television host is also a newlywed. Hill married Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey last October.

The sportscaster added that he credited ESPN for helping him during his time at the network.

“I did work there for nine years and uh, it’s sad that when I worked there, there was a certain culture that existed at ESPN. Look, I will give them credit for being a worldwide leader. I probably wouldn’t be in the position I am today if it wasn’t for those four letters being on my resume,” said Hill.

The entire video can be seen below.

As reported by Sister 2 Sister Magazine, ESPN’s reputation with racism has been in the news lately. Nichols was caught on video complaining that Maria Taylor, who is Black, only got the job Nichols wanted hosting the NBA finals last year because of affirmative action.

Niko Mann

Niko Mann is a Freelance Journalist for News Onyx and Sister2Sister. She lives in Los Angeles. Follow her on Twitter@niko1mann.