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UPDATED: ESPN cut Hank Williams’ traditional lead-in song from last week’s Monday Night Football telecast after the country singer compared President Barack Obama to Hitler during a spot on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends. He apologized the next day. But today, the sports network owned by ABC has severed ties altogether via a curt statement this morning.
“We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams, Jr. We appreciate his contributions over the past years. The success of Monday Night Football has always been about the games and that will continue.”
According to Williams Jr’s blog, it was his choice, not the network’s, to part ways “After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision,” he wrote in a post dated today. “By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It’s been a great run.” The Grammy winner’s song had been a part of the MNF telecasts since 1991 on both ESPN and ABC.
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Good riddance.
Agreed…
Right. Criticize Obama and you are toast in entertainment land. I guess the Rev. Al Sharpton got on the phone and got this one done, too, since he is the new leader of the NFL.
Football will lose on this – just watch.
He didn’t “criticize Obama”, you simpleton, he compared Obama to one of the most horrifying mass murderers in the history of the human race. Get some perspective.
Wait, so you think Al Sharpton has that kind of power? Seriously?! That’s the funniest thing I’ve read so far about this story.
Also football won’t “lose on this,” genius. You Teabaggers are a lot less influential/mainstream than you think.
Women everywhere are now making a pact, an act of patriotism, to never have sex with a redneck again, lest they contribute to the dumbing down of the country’s gene pool by inadvertently giving birth to more of you pathetic morons.
You go girl! Levity doesn’t hurt.
How can you take something off Television that is only the truth? I am with Hank all the way 100%, and always will be! I hope he finds ways to continue telling the truth about Obama, everyone needs to know!
You must be the one with the proof that Obama gassed millions of people and started a war to take over the world. I’ve been looking all over the place for that!
If anyone seriously thinks that Obama is like Hitler then something is truly wrong with not only their grasp of history but also just unhinged. Okay, so you don’t like him. That’s okay. State why you don’t. When you make stupid statements you get treated like a stupid person. That also goes for anyone who thinks Obama is a communist. Those kinds of beliefs just demonstrate how some people didn’t pay in attention in school.
I guess that is what happens why you exercise your right to free speech. Oh wait, this is America, there is no such thing anymore…
The Dixie Chicks say hi, and they got persecuted by the right and the south for just saying they were embarrassed by Bush. Bocephus has every right to call Obama anything up to and including the Anti-Christ, but ESPN has the right to shit-can his 20 year old song from a football game opening.
This statement makes NO sense. No free speech violated here at all. Hank expressed his, ESPN theirs. No government interference at all. It’s EXACTLY how a free society should work.
Wholeheartedly agree.
It doesn’t matter how many times this is said, although I applaud you for trying. These ass backwards fools don’t care about facts. They’ll keep repeating the same thing over and over as though saying it enough makes it true.
Okay, then you didn’t listen to what he said. THE WHOLE THING!!! He didn’t say anything remotely like Obama = Hitler! It wasn’t said. What he said was that the golf game was the biggest political mistake ever. When asked what he meant by that he named FOUR people playing golf, he said that them playing golf together would be like Hitler and Netanyahu playing golf together. His point was simple, it was a comparison of an EVENT not people. He was saying that Hitler and Netanyahu’s relationship is like our current political parties. They don’t get along and shouldn’t pretend to. Even though he was definately drunk, it made sense. Maybe as to not offend people he shouldn’t have used Hitler, but you can’t get much polar opposite than Hitler and Netanyahu. Sucks that you can’t say what you feel without people taking things out of context and flying far and to the right…
Roblyn — you sound like a moron, your reasoning lacks any logic, and you write like a moron. That’s me exercising my right to free speeck by letting you know.
Thank you.
He still has freedom of speech, the government never censored what he said, a cooperation decided it was in their best interest to part ways with a moron. That doesn’t mean he can no longer say stupid shit. Freedom of speech does not mean you can say anything you want without consequences.
Last time I checked, the right to free speech doesn’t protect you from being fired by your employer for saying something controversial.
Then maybe you should broaden what you check. It happens EVERY DAY. Employers have codes of conduct. What you say on twitter, facebook etc… are all open game in regards to employment.
I’m pretty sure the comment you replied to agrees with your position (i.e. the First Amendment covers government action, and except for certain cases involving government employment, your boss can fire you for what you say – i.e. violating the employment code you’re referring to…)
Jimmy, when WAS the last time you checked?
Pretty sure you didn’t read his post correctly.
Hank can say whatever he wants, but ESPN doesn’t have to promote him. Freedom of Speech doesn’t guarantee a national platform on television.
Is the concept really that difficult to understand? Yes, he has free speech – nobody is throwing him in jail for expressing his opinion. What he said is not illegal under any of our laws.
But that doesn’t mean there are no consequences. The analogy is a simple one – go in this morning and tell your boss that he/she reminds you of Hitler. You won’t go to jail, you will just be fired.
ESPN is not an arm of the government.
No one said he couldn’t say it, but ESPN doesn’t have to pay him to say it. Get it?
You might want to re-read the 1st Amendment. It pertains to a body called “Congress”, believe it or not. You see, they pass laws.
Did he go to jail for expressing his opinion? No? So, there is still right to free speech in America. And ESPN, a private company, has that same right to express theirs.
Does anyone understand the First Amendment anymore? He absolutely had the right to say it – the First Amendment protects him from being arrested for saying it. That doesn’t mean he’s protected from reprecussions. Any company is well within their rights tovsever ties with him if they didn’t like what he said.
And since memories seem to be short – Slim Fast canned Whoopi Goldberg as a spokeswoman after she called out George W. Bush (calling him a thug, among other things) at an event, and the Dixie Chicks were boycotted and threatened just for saying Bush being a fellow Texan embarrassed them.
This is no different.
Teabaggers keep making the
Freedom of Speech” argument about Hank but forget the lynching they pulled on the Dixie Chicks when they used their ‘Freedom of Speech” rights too.
Conservatives forget the recent past when it’s convenient to do so.
I haven’t heard anybody say Hank’s freedom of speech was violated, but I do recall a near-deification of the Dixie Chicks in the exact same situation. I doubt we’ll see months of magazine covers and adoring coverage of Hank like we did with them. They were heroes silenced by the awful right, but Hank is just a bigmouth and doesn’t have any defenders, nor should he. Moving on!
The First Amendment protects citizens from being prosecuted by THE GOVERNMENT for their beliefs/speech. You still have to face the non-governmental consequences for what you say out loud in public.
You and Hank need an education.
Hey, Everyone, stop picking on Roblyn, you’re violating her free speech, snicker snicker snort snort…
I agree with you! The truth is Obama has brought America down. Why do people not see this?????
Because we’re not blinded by the lies you’ve obviously swallowed hook, line and sinker? It’s failed Republican ideology over the last decade that’s brought the country low, not Obama. Get your head out of Fox & Limhaugh’s lap, and possibly read something?
I’m sure you said the same thing about the Dixie Chicks.
Why is the first amendment so hard for people to understand?
I am not a fan in particular of Hank Williams Jr.,but,in a way haven’t his comments been proven to be at least somewhat accurate,I’m just saying:”you criticize the fuhrer-oops-I mean president,you get fired-what’s up with that?”…..
If you really think President Obama is like Hitler your are truly delusional, and there’s no reasoning with you. I just hope you don’t get out of the house very much to interact with the rest of humanity.
Yes, because a guy who gassed six million Jews and would have killed anyone for criticizing him is EXACTLY the same as a president half the country doesn’t like because of his *cough* background *cough* policies.
Good for them!!
Chicken Shits…
OK, kiddies, just to review…
Directly calling George W. Bush a Nazi = National Hero
Making a retarded analogy that possibly, maybe compared Barack Obama to a Nazi = National Outcast
Thanks, liberal media!
Wrong…
Saying you’re ashamed to be from the same state as Bush = all of your CDs burned and massive boycotts.
Comparing Obama to Hitler = exercising your free speech and holding up smart signs at a tea party rally.
Even Kanye West was criticized for saying Bush doesn’t like black people. The reality is that comments like this, no matter who they’re directed at, will always anger 50% of the country and just like you have the freedom to say them, someone else has the freedom to not hire you based on them.
The MNF song was pretty tired anyway… they’d been using it forever and ESPN was probably just looking for an excuse to replace it without angering the purists.
Who called George W Bush a nazi and was declared a national hero? When did this happen?
He didn’t even compare him to Hitler, it was just an analogy. People need to stop getting butthurt over stupid shit.
“He didn’t even compare him to Hitler, it was just an analogy.”
Lol, comment of the day.
Great catch….the epitome of “Priceless”…lol
“He didn’t even compare him to Hitler, it was just an analogy. People need to stop getting butthurt over stupid shit.”
@ Prax No,people need to stop talking when they don’t have anything intelligent to contribute. An analogy is by definition a type of comparison.
What “National Hero” are you talking about? Please be specific, or else it may just look like one of those things youbguys make up to change the argument.
Also, Hank didn’t “possibly, maybe” compare Obama to Hitler. Watch the video. The Fox hosts gave him a chance to back off the comparison and he pushed forward with it and clarified. PS, when Fox News hosts think yours too right wing, you’re too right wing. I can’t believe he actually made them look intelligent and reasonable.
@Roblyn,
This isn’t a First Amendment violation because the government didn’t crack down on him. His bosses fired him for being a jackass while he was exercising his freedom of speech. Please, Teabaggers, learn the difference before you post something that makes you look like a moron,
Also, sorry for the typos. I’m typing on an iPad screen.
Yes everyone you are right, it was not a violation of his CONSTITUTIONAL right for ESPN to fire him. I didn’t make myself clear because I know what that means. Simply I was trying to point out how screwed up our country has gotten when they can’t even listen to something and really LISTEN before they jump the gun and pull the trigger. ESPN should not have let him go for the actual comment he made. If he had stated Obama is just like Hitler because he did this and this or whatever else fine. But he didn’t. he didn’t say which was which. Heck, if comparing two people to four people he left two out of the analogy the way people are reading into it. Do I think he should have said it? Probably not. Do I think he should be able to say it and retain his job, hell yeah I do. Why? Because look at who made the comment, Hank Williams, Jr. The fact that Herman Cane came out of his mouth floored me as well because he is the last person I would expect to support him. HOWEVER, although my initial comment was stupid (and I admit it was), I was trying to get a point across. He was fired for what he said, so in a way he was cencored. It sent a very blatant message. All I am pointing out is that people shouldn’t jump to conclusions when hearing 9 words, they should know by now to look into it, unless you just don’t care. Which is obvious.
“That would be like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu…” No “possibly, mabye” about it. Williams, Jr. is a clown and you’re a clown for defending him.
This is typical of any cult. When you express even a hint of criticism to the cult leader, you’re shunned or outright killed out in a field somewhere.
The things liberals said about Bush (who I was never a fan of myself) were so beyond anything that anyone says about Obama.
But Bush was never a cult leader and so “questioning your leaders” was a good thing.
Now that the cult leader is in the White House, you’re suddenly a terrorist for questioning or criticising the country’s puppet boy.
Just goes to show that, for all the weeping and wailing for free speech by liberals, they only allow it when it’s their free speech. They don’t give a damn about anyone else. And, not only that, they’ll blacklist you.
Isn’t America grand?
is this from The Onion?
“The things liberals said about Bush (who I was never a fan of myself) were so beyond anything that anyone says about Obama.”
Can you please post some documented examples of people saying things about Bush worse than “he’s a nazi,” “he’s Hitler,” “he’s the anti-christ,” “he’s a secret terrorist,” “he wants to set up death panels” …
Wow, you really just laid bare all the rampant hypocrisy on the left in one fell swoop!
Just kidding, you’re completely wrong.
But thank you for providing a perfect example of what a whiny Teabagger with no grip on reality sounds like.
Wait so you are comparing the US Government to a “cult”? You are about as smart as HWJ.
Thanks for proving what idiots you 2 are!
Please name the “national hero” who directly called GWB a “Nazi” and was praised for it.
Saying you’re embarrassed by George Bush (Dixie Chicks) = Death threats, boycotts of your songs/records by radio stations, public burning/destruction of your recordings, etc. etc. = Conservatives Think It’s Just Fine.
Saying Obama is (or is equivalent to) Hitler = One TV program drops your song from its opening = Conservatives Think It’s A National Disgrace.
Yes. Because Right Wing Media had absolutely nothing to do with the career annihilation of the Dixie Chicks career and subsequent death threats when Natalie Maines dared to voice her displeasure with George Bush, albeit with far less incendiary terms than Bocephus.
That being said, Jr. made incredible country music in the late 70s and early 80s and, despite the fact I disagree with him and find him a bore, I will continue to play my “Whiskey Bent and He’ll Bound” 8-track. Just as I will continue to plan my Monday nights around MNF.
Dumb-ass hick deserved what he got.
Wow. Someone screams and rants like a madman that a bi-racial academic from Chicago who’s never hurt anyone is someone “like” a genocidal, war-mongering monster and you lose a lucrative gig.
What’s the world coming to?
Guess it’s back to playing gigs at the klavern Hank.
why do you idiots keep saying he compared obama to hitler? has anyone actually watched the tape?
Um, the people who are saying he called Obama Hitler ARE the ones who watched the tape, genius.
Your perfect storm of condescension and stupidity reminds me of Zach Galifianakis’ “Pretentious Illiterate” bit.
Yes we did. And yes he did. Did YOU watch the video???
Adios you dummy (he referred to Pres. Obama and Vice Pres. Biden as the three musketeers) Even your own son Hank Williams III said you needed to keep your opinion to your self.
P.S. Hank, freedom of speech means that no matter how ignorant your opinion you can’t be imprisoned for speaking publicly. However you can be held accountable in terms of embarrassing your employer.
USA,,, NOT the land of free speech.
Please refer to the many replies for the first commenter who made a similar argument to see how utterly ignorant and devoid of fact said argument really is.
And apparently not the land of the grammatically correct,,,,,,,,
How is it not the land of “free speech”? Was he imprisoned for his comment? No.
You and Hank must drink from the same Kool-Aid.
Just wait until someone spouts off about how ESPN hates freedom of speech, not realizing that the inability to restrict freedom of speech only applies to the government and citizens, not corporations and employees.
Too late.
SO MANY CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS HERE. You all have missed the point. Whether its the government censoring or a company censoring, you have still violated the spirit of this great country. People should be able to speak their minds. And by the way, what if the President had called ABC and asked them to fire Williams? Wouldn’t that be government censorship? That would be an interesting constitutional question.
This is outrageous. The Dixie Chicks got a magazine cover out of their political views. Apparently the media’s stance on “freedom of speech” only applies to views to which they agree. I don’t agree with the Dixie Chicks OR Hank Williams Jr. but I do believe that their music shouldn’t be censored as punishment. Yes, it is ESPN’s right to play what they want to, just as it was Hank’s right to say what he wants, but I still doubt they would have done the same in response to the Dixie Chicks or even Tony Bennett and his 9/11 beliefs.
Freedom of speech is all relative in this day and age.
How many times do people have to say, “this is not a freedom of speech issue”. When Madonna made a video involving a black jesus and burning crosses, she lost her Pepsi deal. It’s just capitalism. Do you disagree with capitalism? What the idiot tea-baggers seem to forget is that over 1/2 of voting Americans voted for Obama. So, when you go on TV and make statements about him, you are NOT in your living room talking to your indoctrinated family. You are actually insulting over 1/2 of the voting population. There are going to be consequences to that. The Dixie Chicks learned that. Madonna found that out and, as usual, turned it to her advantage.
Really, this is not rocket science.
Good to see the right-wingers got here first.
This is a great entry into the pantheon of “You can’t fire me, I quit!”
Isn’t it amazing how whenever a George Clooney or Matt Damon movie opens, Drudge readers flock over here by the hundreds to comment on how artists should just keep their opinions to themselves and that they boycott anyone who tries to use that position to air their political beliefs?
Yet here’s another performer voicing his political beliefs and here come the same Drudge readers, foaming at the mouth to say “I thought this was America” “Freedom of Speech?” and “We would never treat someone this badly for making liberal remarks.”
What a moron. He doesn’t even realize that the First Amendment protects us from GOVERNMENT censorship of speech. Not a private company from distancing itself from someone.
Always makes me laugh out loud when someone uses the term “liberal media”…..when most if not all of the “liberal media” are owned by huge multinational corporations who are typically very conservative – like ESPN – owned by ABC – owned by Disney – and I know you will leap to a George Soros reference, but save it – it will be as irrelevant as your “liberal media” statement.
It doesn’t matter whether the person is Democrat, Republican or Independent, you respect the office and the job! The hateful analogies have to stop sometime. There is always a respectful and tactful way to express displeasure, and all sides need to get back to doing that so we can get needed things done!
Freedom of speech, does not mean we have to stop caring about others. I have never seen anything good happen until people start talking with each other instead of, at each other.
He probably didn’t have the authority or right(s) to quit. ESPN most likely owned the rights to the song. Even if they wanted the song to stay, and he wanted to pull, he most likely didn’t have any leverage to make that happen. It is very easy to quit when you have already been dropped.
Nuh uh! Didn’t you see how he capitalized the “my” in “MY decision.” that means he told ESPN where they could go.
So tired of the right whining like a herd of babies when this shit happens. Hanks an idiot regardless of which President he commented on. A moron is a moron, can’t you even recognize one anymore? Grow some balls and some integrity already.
Free speech! Come on! Doesn’t anybody actually read the First Amendment? “Congress shall make no law…” It doesn’t say a damn thing about your employer! If ESPN wants to pull your song, they have every damn right to do so! So, you Right Wing whiners, get a freakin’ clue as to what you’re bitchin’ about before you go off the deep end with your overly developed sense of persecution. Dumbass’.
I’m a conservative, but I’m glad ESPN axed Hank Williams, Jr’s music from their program because I’m sick to death of singers and actors using their platform their listeners/viewers paid for to spout their own political beliefs. I’ve cut lots of performers from my music list because they can’t keep themselves from evangelizing their political beliefs in front of a captive audience. If you want to have a political rally before the concert, knock yourself out…but don’t ask me to pay for a ticket and then listen to your uninformed views on the state of the world before you go back to your private jet and fly away. SHUT UP AND SING–no one CARES what any of you performers think about politics.
Always makes me laugh out loud when someone uses the term “liberal media”…..when most if not all of the “liberal media” are owned by huge multinational corporations who are typically very conservative – like ESPN – owned by ABC – owned by Disney – and I know you will leap to a George Soros reference, but save it – it will be as irrelevant as your liberal media” statement.
These people have their heads buried so far in Fox and Limbaugh’s lap (the pushers of the eternal “liberal media” meme) they wouldn’t know their a*s from a hole in the ground.
Yah, you would think the Liberal Media would be all over the Wall Street Protesters and showing them in a positive light. If it weren’t for the internet we would have no idea that was going on. But the Teabaggers have a rally and Fox News is all over that like dog shit on the bottom of one’s shoes.
The First Amendment guarantees that the GOVERNMENT cannot infringe on your Freedom of Speech. ESPN is not part of government Hank. Go back to civics class.
Thank you. Sarah Palin pulls this same line all the time. The First Amendment requires no company to print, broadcast or otherwise notify anyone in any way that you have f’n crazy ideas. And if they want to disassociate their company from you afterward, that is their right.
I guess he just go Dixie Chicked.
Free speech? Hank Williams, Jr. is free to speak all he wants, and ESPN is free to protect their brand by dumping that song and it’s unpredictable singer. They haven’t silenced him, just fired him. Please don’t use the Bill of Rights to excuse your bad behavior and name calling, Hank!