"We must never allow disrespect from anyone" — Marc Lamont Hill defends shutting down Piers Morgan after he urged a white guest to say the N-word

On May 6, 2025, academic and author Marc Lamont Hill appeared on the Piers Morgan Uncensored show. While conversing with the panellists, he seemingly became agitated when Piers Morgan encouraged one of the panel members, Lilly Gaddis, to use the N-word.

Following the incident, Hill shared an Instagram post with a video clip of the conversation. Reflecting on the series of events that followed during the discussion, he wrote:

“At the end of our debate, Piers dared her to use the N-word on the show. While I understand that his intention was to expose her as a racist, and get ratings for shock value, I felt compelled to shut it down.”

Marc Lamont Hill went on:

“We must never allow disrespect from anyone, but especially out open enemies. And we must always affirm our dignity self-worth.”

In the caption of the post, Marc Lamont Hill shared that he had been invited to appear on Piers Morgan’s show to talk about a fundraiser supporting a white woman who had used a racial slur toward a five-year-old autistic Black child.

He only found out once the show began that he would be on the panel with Myron Gaines and Lilly Gaddis.

Why did Marc Lamont Hill ask Piers Morgan not to encourage Lilly Gaddis to say the N-word?

Towards the end of the discussion, Piers Morgan pointed out Lilly Gaddis’ open admission of being racist and using the N-word, asking if she truly wanted people to view her that way. Gaddis responded that she didn’t care about others’ opinions of her.

She believed that caring too much about public perception meant giving up personal power and losing the country. Her main concern was freedom of speech, insisting that if people couldn’t say offensive things, then true freedom of speech didn’t exist.

She also felt it was unfair that people like the woman in question could have their lives ruined over a single offensive comment, especially while, in her view, Black people weren’t held to the same standard. Piers Morgan interrupted her, saying:

“Well, go on then, say it. Say the N-word.”

However, Marc Lamont Hill cut in midway, repeatedly asking her not to say the word. According to him:

“Don’t invite this woman to say a racially harmful term in front of me cause I'm the only ni**a on here. So, if she says it, I'm the victim of it. So, please don't invite her for ratings to call me the N-word. That's basically what it's going to be. There's a bunch of white people up here.”

Marc Lamont Hill explained that it was completely inappropriate to ask someone to use the N-word in his presence. He compared it to asking someone to say a slur in front of a Jewish person, saying it would never be acceptable.

While he believed Morgan didn't mean any harm, he still didn’t want to be exposed to any racial offense. Piers Morgan acknowledged his point, agreed to move on, and ended the discussion by thanking everyone.

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