CNN's Marc Lamont Hill referred to Trump diversity team member Bruce LeVell as a part of a group of "mediocre Negroes" who met with the president-elect.

The characterization, which includes Pastor Darryl Scott and television host and comedian Steve Harvey, came during a panel discussion with host Don Lemon on "CNN Tonight" on Monday.



“They (the Trump transition team) keep bringing up comedians and and actors athletes to represent black interests. It’s demeaning, it’s disrespectful, and it’s condescending,” Hill argued. “Bring some people up there with expertise, Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE, don’t just bring up people to entertain.”



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Trump and his transition team have have frequently slammed CNN lately, with Trump calling the network "fake news" at a press conference. The segment devolved into a shouting match from that point on.

“You weren’t even there…” retorted LeVell. “Pastor Darryl Scott, Mike Cohen, they are in the process of bringing all types of people from all over the country, from all different backgrounds. Remember the diversity coalition where we reached out to all different types of people?”“Yeah, it was a bunch of mediocre Negroes being dragged in front of TV as a photo-op for Donald Trump’s exploitative campaign against black people. And you are an example of that,” Hill said, adding later he wasn't engaging in "name-calling."