Former ESPN host Jemele Hill found herself in the hot seat after a feeble attempt to defend Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s leadership failures during Southern California’s catastrophic wildfires.
As reported by The Blaze, Hill, known for her outspoken commentary, targeted Khloé Kardashian in a bizarre twist, but her argument sparked ridicule rather than support.

Southern California has faced one of its most devastating wildfire seasons, with countless homes destroyed, lives upended, and questions swirling around the city’s preparedness.
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Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, has taken heat for what many see as a lackluster response to the unfolding disaster. Amid the criticism, Hill stepped in with a peculiar defense, pointing fingers at reality star Khloé Kardashian.
Kardashian had publicly questioned whether local officials had done enough to mitigate the disaster, joining a growing chorus of frustrated voices.
Jemele Hill tries and fails to defend Mayor Karen Bass on wildfire catastrophe by bashing Kardashians https://t.co/F9x0eJIDvB pic.twitter.com/yWh7mWAZfl
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) January 15, 2025
Instead of addressing the legitimate concerns, Hill deflected, bringing up past water usage violations by the Kardashian family during California’s drought. This line of reasoning, however, didn’t go over well.
.@jemelehill told @thereval on @MSNBC that @khloekardashian‘s criticism of L.A. Mayor Karen Bass was ridiculous considering how much water her family allegedly uses. @ryangormanshow#LAwildfires #CaliforniaWildfires #news #LAfires #Kardashians #KhloeKardashian pic.twitter.com/PZcMir3dhG
— NewsRadio WFLA (@WFLANews) January 14, 2025
“My point was the hypocrisy of Khloé Kardashian calling the mayor out when during a serious drought, her family said screw everybody, we’re going to use as much water as we want,” Hill argued on social media. She also noted that the Kardashians reside in Calabasas, outside Bass’s jurisdiction.
My point was the hypocrisy of Khloe Kardashian calling the mayor out when during a serious drought, her family said screw everybody, we’re going to use as much water as we want. I also believe the Kardashians live in Calabasas, so her mayor isn’t even Karen Bass. https://t.co/LMiuL3Do1I
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) January 14, 2025
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The response was swift and brutal. Critics on social media and talk radio tore into Hill’s defense.
“If the Kardashians would just stop showering, the fire hydrants would be full, the reservoirs would have been filled, and the fires would have been put out!” quipped Ryan Gorman during his radio show, mocking Hill’s logic.

Others pointed out the absurdity of blaming a private citizen for government failures.
“Look I don’t even like the Kardashians but they don’t make LA policies & budget so wtf are you even talking about what it got to do with running a state?” asked one commenter.

Critics accused Hill of using classic leftist tactics—deflection and gaslighting—to shield Bass from accountability.
“Defending historic and tragic incompetence and failed leadership is simply what Leftists do. Gaslighting is the Left’s grammar. Without it, they can’t push their radical ideas,” said one scathing reply.
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Adding insult to injury, Mediaite reported that Hill misrepresented statements from a fire department chief, further undermining her argument.
While Hill may have thought she was protecting the mayor, her comments only highlighted the glaring lack of leadership during this unprecedented disaster. For those suffering through the devastation, finger-pointing and failed defenses only add to the frustration.
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