Jemele Hill confirms exit from ESPN

After weeks of speculation, Jemele Hill has confirmed she is leaving ESPN.

“Over the last several weeks, there have been a lot of rumors about my job status. Today is my last day at ESPN,” Hill said in a tweet posted Friday.

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“When I started at ESPN in 2006, I had no idea that such a wonderful journey would take place over the next 12 years,” Hill said in a statement included with her tweet. “This was the place where I became the best version of myself, both personally and professionally.

“However, the time has come for me to begin a new chapter in my life.”

Hill went on to thank her co-workers, including “His and Hers” and SportsCenter co-host Michael Smith.

“There are so many people to thank, but it’s worth me singling out a few that were instrumental during my time at ESPN.

“To my friend, brother and former co-host Michael Smith: I love you and you made me better in every possible way. I’m proud of everything we did, because nobody sold tapes out the trunk quite like us.

“And to the rest of my ESPN colleagues: I am humbled and forever grateful to have worked with you. I am in awe of your talents. I’ll always be rooting for you.”

Hill didn’t specify what is next for her, but amid reports of her exit last month, it was speculated that the veteran journalist would move into production.

The Athletic media reporter Richard Deitsch said in August that Hill and her longtime friend, journalist Kelley L. Carter, who writes for ESPN's The Undefeated, are moving into production with their company Lodge Freeway Media.

James Miller, who first reported that Hill was leaving the company, said Hill will move to Los Angeles Oct. 1, after she finishes up some remaining assignments.

Hill mentioned the next phase of her career in an interview with Detroit Metro Times.

“I know that whenever I kick off the next iteration of my career, it will involve me getting more deeply involved in producing original content,” she said in the Aug. 1 interview. “There are avenues opening up for women of color to provide different perspectives. That’s something we really wanted to take a hard look at.”

Cox Media Group