SC-6 CoHost Jemele Hill EXITING ESPN

Jemele Hill, Michael Smith

Jemele Hill, the “SportsCenter” anchor who drew extra scrutiny to ESPN after making pointed remarks about President Donald Trump, will leave the program and focus on assignments in other parts of the Walt Disney-owned company, according to people familiar with the situation.

Variety reports these people characterized the move as one requested by Hill. Michael Smith, her co-anchor in the 6 p.m. hour of  “SportsCenter,” is expected to continue to anchor the hour on his own, according to one of these people.

Hill’s last day on the program is expected to take place next week, just a few days before Super Bowl LII takes place. She is expected to, among other things, join ESPN’s “The Undefeated,” an ESPN digital-news outlet that analyzes sports, race and culture. The pair launched their new edition of “SportsCenter,” known as “SC6,” in February of last year.

In September, Hill sparked controversy by  posting a tweet that referred to President Trump as a “white supremacist.” The White House called for her to be fired.  At the time, ESPN said her views did not represent those of the network. After Hill subsequently tweeted a suggestion that her followers boycott the Dallas Cowboys because of his stance relating to his players and  protests during the playing of the national anthem, ESPN suspended her for two weeks.