‘F*ck Ben Shapiro!’ Jemele Hill Confronts Stephen A. Smith on Platforming Conservatives in Heated Exchange

Jemele Hill and Stephen A. Smith got into over Smith’s decisions to platform certain right-wing commentators on his show.

Smith appeared on Wednesday’s episode of Hill and Cari Champion’s show Flagrant and Funny. During their conversation, Hill and Champion addressed their criticisms of Smith and his political commentary. A little over an hour into the talk, Hill explained how she took issue with the kinds of guests Smith has on his show, as well as his regular appearances on Fox News.

“Fox News is the most anti-Black news station I think I’ve ever seen in my life,” Hill told Smith. “You know what they constantly do all the time: fear-mongering. They make us– we’re their target practice all day. And I’m like, why? Why is that the choice?

“And not just them. It’s like, yo, man. I saw you do– I watched your conversation with Ben Shapiro, man. And I’m going just say, fu*k Ben Shapiro. And the reason I say that [is] because when he said that about Trayvon Martin, and his consistent comments about him, dead to me. And so maybe that’s where we’re just different.”

Hill went on to say that with certain figures, their values go far beyond just a different of opinion, adding that “I see you sometimes constantly in the company of who dismiss our humanity.” When she asked Smith why, he cited his upbringing in a politically diverse household and said he grew up around “friction.”

He added:

There’s a whole bunch of things that I say against conservatives and Republicans. I argue with [Sean Hannity] all the damn time, but I have his ear because what I’m not in his face, or that of Republicans doing or anybody else, “You racist, no good bastard. This is who you are. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.” Because you have Black people who are conservatives that don’t feel that way. They’re Black like us, but their ideology, their belief system, and what their foundation and principles stand on, this is where they stand. And they have factual evidence to support them, especially against the Democratic party. So all of a sudden, you see all of this information coming your way and you’re like, damn. You’re weighing one information against the other. You’re learning something new as it goes along. And then you remember, if you’re me– I’m a journalist, now a commentator and a pundit. I talk to everybody. I interview everybody. Get them on the record. Let them say what they got to say, and everybody sees it for what it is.

Hill then told Smith, “But we don’t need to do that.” Champion jumped in to ask Smith why he chose to go on Fox News in response to the NABJ giving him the unflattering “Thumbs Down” award.

Smith vehemently disagreed with the Hill’s suggestion that such conversations weren’t needed.

The exchange continued:

SMITH: We are diametrically opposed by that. And here’s why, because we’re both raised as journalists. To me– I would challenge you for even saying that. You don’t get to say that!

CHAMPION: Not with the people who deny your humanity!

SMITH: It doesn’t matter. What I’m trying to say–

HILL: No, it actually does matter, Stephen A.

SMITH: No, no, no, I’m talking about a willingness to talk to them. I didn’t say agree with them. I didn’t say sign off on it–

HILL: But why? Because they make their points known.

SMITH: Because it’s not about them–

HILL: They don’t need no help!

SMITH: Because it’s not about them. It’s about their audience. It’s about their audience.

HILL: Stephen A., we’re not at the point of conversion in this country right now.

SMITH: I disagree.

HILL: I don’t think so.

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