Marc Lamont Hill Addresses Backlash Over Joining ‘The Joe Budden Podcast,’ Says Critics Thought He Was ‘Too Square, Too Serious’

Jasmine Brand, Marc Lamont Hill

Marc Lamont Hill Addresses Backlash Over Joining ‘The Joe Budden Podcast,’ Says Critics Thought He Was ‘Too Square, Too Serious’

Marc Lamont Hill is opening up about the reaction he received after joining The Joe Budden Podcast. During an exclusive interview with theJasmineBRAND founder Jasmine Brand, the journalist, author and political commentator reflected on the skepticism surrounding whether he would fit in with the popular podcast’s cast.

Hill said the criticism came from different directions. While some people welcomed his addition, he recalled others saying, “He’s too square. He’s too corny. He’s too quiet. He’s too serious.” Another group questioned whether Hill was intellectually suited for the show, but he said those perceptions began to change as audiences watched the cast tackle politics, social issues and culture together.

“Everybody up there has thoughts. Everybody up there is smart. Everybody up there has perspective,” Hill said, adding, “We don’t always see it the same way.” He also made it clear that he views his co-hosts as equals, explaining, “It’s not like they just hold their own. They were peers. And I think that surprised people.”

Hill said being on the podcast also allowed audiences to see more sides of him. “People learned that I’m more complex maybe than they thought,” he shared. Still, certain disagreements have occasionally brought the conversation about his fit on the show back to the surface.

Ultimately, Hill pushed back on the idea that people having different viewpoints says anything about their intelligence. “You walk in any Black house, any Black barbershop, any Black cookout, it’s going to be 10 Black people and 11 opinions,” he said. “And all of them are valid. Everybody’s got a perspective and everybody’s smart. It’s just a question of where you stand on the issue.”