As the network has lost subscribers it has pushed further into politics in order to drum up controversy to keep viewers more-engaged. That strategy backfired nearly year ago when Hill called President Trump and white supremacist on Twitter. Trump called for Hill to be fired. Hill later suggested that sponsors boycott the Dallas Cowboys after Jerry Jones demanded NFL players stand for the flag. That prompted ESPN to suspend Hill.
Hill eventually left ESPN Sportscenter and co-cost Michael Smith to work for The Undefeated, an online magazine owned by ESPN. The move likely gave Hill more leeway to discuss politics and race-related matters. The decision for her and ESPN to eventually part ways comes as no surprise after the turmoil over the past year and the need for ESPN to cut costs amid its free fall in revenue.
