Jake Paul was left confused during a recent interview after being asked 'was it racist' to knockout Nate Robinson in a joke that didn't stick the landing.
Paul took on former NBA point guard Robinson on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr, emerging as the winner in the second round.
The YouTube star appeared on Vice TV's 'Cari & Jemele (won't) Stick To Sports' earlier this week to chat with Jemele Hill and Cari Champion and the pair tried to interject some humour in the show.
Advert
Hill begins: "This is our question of the week. We saw what happened to Nate Robinson, so I'm gonna ask Jake Paul right here, in front of America. Jake, considering where we are right now in our racial conversation in America, was what you did to Nate Robinson racist?"
Paul replied: "Nah, stop playing with me," and Hill responds: "It's a sensitive time right now.
Advert
"We just had to witness a white man just knock a black man smooth out in front of all America, so that's why I asked that. Tell us about that moment real quick because it looked like Nate was asleep before hitting the canvas."
The 23-year-old said: "This is what we train for. At the end of the day, boxing is a sport and we train to win. I went in there and I worked hard for this. Nate is the one who called me out originally."
Champion then asks: "First and foremost, was it racist to knock a black man out? That is the question of the week."
It prompts a frustrated response from Paul, who declares: "I said no. It's a shi*ty question. It's a sport."
When Champion presses to find out why, Paul states: "Because, how does this have anything to do with race? It doesn't."
Advert
The questions seem to be intended as a joke and Paul comically slaps himself in the face after Champion says he needs to 'wake up' to be part of the conversation.
However, the duo received backlash for their questions and Champion took to to Twitter in an attempt to clear the air.
"Y'all, @jemelehill and I were trolling a troll with permission," the broadcaster said.
"This wasn't an interview with weight. It was sarcastic- y'all need context? Bc if y'all can't hear the laughing, the bad WiFi connection- smh. So for the outraged! For more context Thurs. at 1130pm on @VICETV."
Advert
Hill echoed her co-host's sentiment, saying: "It's a late night talk show that comes on at 11:30p. It ain't supposed to be PBS.
"I also didn't realize I wasn't permitted to joke about race just because I also have the range to talk about it seriously."
Featured Image Credit: VICE TVTopics: Boxing News, Boxing, Jake Paul
