On Monday afternoon, ESPN SportsCenter co-host Jemele Hill was suspended for two weeks for what ESPN called a “violation of social media guidelines” and the world reacted swiftly.
The cause of the suspension was a series of tweets in which Hill called for NFL fans to boycott the Dallas Cowboys and advertisers of the team.
Hill sent the series of tweets in response to the comments made by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. After Sunday’s game against the Packers, Jones said, “Any Cowboys player not standing for the anthem will not play.”
Hill’s tweets essentially told fans not to put the burden on players to risk their careers making a statement. She insisted fans should instead take matters into their own hands by boycotting games and refusing to buy products of NFL sponsors. Hill’s comments were her second violation of ESPN’s social media guidelines in the past month. 
On Sept. 11, Hill sent a series of tweets criticizing President Donald Trump, whom she called “ignorant, unfit for office, and a white supremacist.” Hill’s comments led the White House to issue a statement calling for her to be fired. ESPN then came out with a statement apologizing for Hill’s criticisms. 
I believe Hill’s tweets about President Trump, in combination with her latest tweets encouraging fans to boycott the NFL, justify her suspension from the sports network. 
However, many people on Twitter have come to Hill’s defense, criticizing ESPN for trying to impede her freedom of speech. However, many people taking that position are way off base on this issue.
The 1^st Amendment right to freedom of speech applies to citizen’s civil rights, not to their rights within a business in the private sector, like ESPN.
A private company absolutely has the right to censor speech they find detrimental to their business. This same principle applies to owners making demands concerning the national anthem protests going on in the NFL.
It is well within the right of Jones and other owners to say players will stand for the anthem or be fired, with the concern that the protests are hurting their profits. NFL ratings are down and surveyed fans have said they are not watching because of the protests.
Jones was not the only owner who came out with a statement about their team’s policy on standing during the national anthem.
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross also commented on the issue.
“President Trump has made it about patriotism,” he said. “I think it’s incumbent upon the players today, because of how the public is looking at it, to stand and salute the flag.”
Ross was initially one of the few owners who supported players’ protests but has since changed his tune. The Dolphins’ new policy is players must stand for the flag or stay in the locker room until the national anthem is over.
Hill mentioned Ross and his change of policy on the protests in another series of tweets on Monday, in which she criticized fans for calling out players while continuing to watch games.
It is professionally irresponsible for a journalist working for a network like ESPN—that televises NFL games and advertisements for NFL sponsors—to suggest fans should not support the league.
Hill’s actions are even more egregious in light of the fact ESPN is scheduled to televise two Dolphins games later this year.
People can harp on freedom of speech all they want. However, an ESPN employee cannot go on social media and tell viewers not to watch a team whose games will broadcast on the network that employs her.
To make things worse, part of Hill’s salary comes from ESPN’s contracts with the NFL and its sponsors.
Ultimately, Hill’s actions boil down to a breach of her responsibilities as a journalist. Over the past month, Hill’s tweets have reeked of bias and a personal agenda.
Some might say Hill sent these tweets on her personal time, but when Hill tweets she does so as a public figure for ESPN. Her twitter handle has a blue check mark and the first sentence of her bio reads “Co-host of the 6pm SportCenter.” Her tweets clearly represent her employer in some way.
Hill has clearly wronged her employer in tweeting fans should stop watching NFL games and boycott NFL sponsors. Hill left ESPN no choice, they had to suspend her and she is fortunate to still have a job.