Former ESPN Reporter Comments On Tyreek Hill Arrest
Jemele Hill, a former ESPN personality and current writer for The Atlantic, stirred up controversy by insinuating a connection between Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, Donald Trump, and the recent detention of Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
Tyreek Hill was handcuffed during a traffic stop involving Miami-Dade police officers before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, sparking widespread attention after video of the incident surfaced. One officer involved was later placed on “administrative duties.”
Jemele Hill took to X (formerly Twitter) to offer her theory: “A reminder that Stephen Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins, is a huge Donald Trump supporter – the same Trump who supports giving ALL police immunity from prosecution,” she wrote. “Do with that what you will.” Her comments referred to Ross’s ties to Trump, notably a 2019 fundraiser Ross hosted for the former president, which faced backlash from companies Ross invested in, like Equinox and SoulCycle.
A reminder that Stephen Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins, is a huge Donald Trump supporter — the same Trump who supports giving ALL police immunity from prosecution. Do with that what you will.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 8, 2024
Ross, aside from his political connections, also founded the RISE program, which aims to combat racial discrimination and improve race relations through the sports community. However, Hill’s remarks aimed to draw a line between Ross’s support for Trump and the broader conversation around police immunity and treatment of Black athletes.
In recent years, Trump has been vocal about his intent to “indemnify” and “protect” law enforcement, a promise he reiterated after the death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller in April. He has argued that officers, who often have seconds to make life-and-death decisions, deserve protection from prosecution if they make what he described as “innocent mistakes.”
Despite Hill’s insinuations, there’s no evidence suggesting that the Tyreek Hill detention had any connection to Ross or Trump. The South Florida Police Benevolent Association defended the officers’ actions. Union president Steadman Stahl said Tyreek Hill was detained for officer safety after driving in a way that endangered others. According to the union, Hill was uncooperative during the stop, which led officers to place him in handcuffs and bring him to the ground. Hill was issued two traffic citations.
In the wake of the incident, Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, expressed outrage, calling the police’s actions “completely unacceptable” and suggesting potential legal action. Tyreek Hill, for his part, was baffled by the situation, claiming he had “no idea” why he was detained. He emphasized that he wasn’t disrespectful to officers, noting, “I wasn’t disrespectful because my mom didn’t raise me that way.”
Hill also touched on a deeper concern—what might have happened if he wasn’t a high-profile NFL player. “I don’t want to bring race into it, but sometimes it gets kind of iffy when you do,” he said, adding that the encounter left him questioning the outcome had he been someone else.