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CNN has suspended Roland Martin for “regrettable and offensive” tweets the political commentator posted during the Super Bowl. Martin commented on Twitter, “If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him.” The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said the remark advocated violence against gays. “CNN today took a strong stand against anti-LGBT violence and language that demeans any community,” said GLAAD’s Rich Ferraro. “Yesterday, Martin also spoke out against anti-LGBT violence. We look forward to hearing from CNN and Roland Martin to discuss how we can work together as allies and achieve our common goal of reducing such violence as well as the language that contributes to it.”
CNN Suspends Roland Martin For Tweets
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Really CNN? Martin had already apologized. Was that not enough?
Also, why is everyone so afraid of GLAAD and so willing to cave to their demands?
No one can say or do anything these days that remotely or unintentionally offends someone and not be attacked and bullied by some publicity loving, over reaching organization even when the “offender” has apologized.
The PC Police are in overdrive these days.
REally? He advocates violence against gay men….. That’s ok with you?
I’d make the argument that if you make that case from his tweet you are a bit of an idiot.
I would make the argument that you are the idiot, someone who clearly has no concept of why comments like this are dangerous. Go read a book… oh one other than THAT book.
The liberal/progressive view of diversity: You have to think exactly like I do.
The liberal/progressive view of tolerance: If you don’t think exactly like I do, you must be a hater, homophobe, racist, xenophobe.
I find it hilarious that the main ones who are leading the march to deny people their civil rights are the gay activist groups.
Wait, I have a civil right to get to be a paid host on cable news? Sweet deal. When do I get my first check?
it’s official: gays have jumped the shark
Who the hell do gay people think they are that even if a comedian jokes about them that a apology is demanded? Talk about bullying – they ain’t that special of a group, and the only reason they are a group is because of what they choose to do. Bunch of fucking losers if you ask me.
Well, it’s not really just about the joke, is it? It’s more about the discriminatory attitudes that it perpetuates. Homophobia, while seemingly funny to many, is a serious issue. Though his tweet was not particularly offensive in nature, his underlying views are communicated clearly. I won’t address the ignorance of your comment, “gays are a bullied group because of what they choose to do.” I think you can figure out why it’s so moronic by yourself. Or maybe you can’t.
Well said and in an articulate manner. Clearly some people here just don’t ‘get’ it.
OK. Replace Slap the shit out of the guy and replace it with, Slap the shit out of the woman, and you should, hopefully, see what they’re getting at here.
CNN provides yet another reason to ignore them. They have not been relevant since the late ’80s.
p.s. GLADD is a joke.
If you tweet stupid shit…I mean as Johnny Cash once said, if you can’t do the time don’t do the crime. Also–and more importantly–for god’s sake just watch the game without sharing your Bud Lite marinated thoughts with the world. The world doesn’t care–even your buddy sitting in the barkolounger next to you isn’t listening.
What’s so stupid about it? If that’s what he thought, that’s what he thought. He lives in America, right? I thought Beckham looked like a tool too.
Exercising his first amendment rights is now a “crime”? GLAAD, much like PETA, is hurting its cause more than it is helping it.
Clearly you don’t realize that the “First Amendment” doesn’t keep anyone from suspending or firing you. Not to mention how others interpret what one says.
No, it doesn’t, and people who suspend or fire for such innocuous jokes are trampling over the SPIRIT of the first amendment and making this a joyless country lorded over by a histrionic group of narcissists–some people who really should get that therapist booked.
It’s interesting how organizations that start out with the best of intentions and yet morph into something quite different have monikers which are friendly and comfort-inducing. Two spring to my mind, Homeland Security and GLAAD. Of these, it’s GLAAD I fear the most.
“We look forward to hearing from CNN and Roland Martin to discuss how we can work together as allies and achieve our common goal of reducing such violence as well as the language that contributes to it.” I’m sure you do, GLAAD, I’m sure you do.
The smug, strongarming tone of GLAAD’s public statements makes my skin crawl. A watchdog group whose whole m.o. is getting people fired or suspended? There are real problems in the world GLAAD… Including REAL homophobia and inequality. Homophobia obviously still exists, but it’s been chased out of the mainstream by now…but in the absence of legitimate targets, well-funded GLAAD will create problems where there are none, to legitimize its continued (now pointless) existence. Puke.
In other news CNN suspended John King for calling Mitt Romney “Governor Mormon.” Nah, religious bigotry is ok.
Unless it’s against Muslims.
What Martin said is extremely offensive. I am glad CNN took a stand against one more drunken dunce.
EXTREMELY offensive? Nah. Mildly offensive. Gays are the touchiest group on the planet.
Extremely offensive? Grow a pair, will you!
Glaad are the real nazi’s here even ripping a guy who makes a joke. The statement wasn’t even politically incorrect!
surely that picture of roland is not the right aspect ratio.
I was thinking the same exact thing. He looks like he’s ready to explode.
He has a freakishly large head. That is some melon…OH NO I meant to say…
Aren’t sports commentators SUPPOSED to be assholes? As in “if you go to the ocean you should expect to see water.”
Yes. Oh and he’s not a sport commentator.
I agree with your assessment but not your definition; his website says he’s a sports commentator, among other things.
In defense of Roland it is prejudice to assume all gay men like fashion commercials like this. There are plenty of men who are gay who are manly as plenty of straight men who love fashion. His major point was this was a football game why are you excited about a commercial. If they showed a trailer for the new Spiderman film during the Bachelor and a woman got excited about that he might have tweeted the same thing. Stop getting so PC people.
Bingo
You’re wrong. This has nothing to do with fashion. His point was “if a man likes to look at Beckham in underwear, you should hit him”.
How is that not homophobic?
For those that don’t know, Roland Martin’s wife, who is a pastor, was claimed by Martin as being able to cure gays through conversion therapy. So this was more of a revenge move by GLAAD. Certainly for most people, the would not have made such an uproar.
I fail to see what is offensive. If anyone should be accused of bigotry, its GLAAD who believe that if you are gay, you MUST love fashion. It is the same with the Democratic Party – if you are Black or Hispanic or some other minority group, you MUST be liberal – otherwise, you are disgrace to your heritage. Really?
Bottom line is – if you work for a news organization, you should be careful about the kind of jokes you tell. Tweets like this make Roland Martin seem less intelligent and aware, and that reflects on how people perceive the news he’s supposed to deliver. So, it is a reasonable response for CNN to suspend him (though I thought the apology was enough)
Also, it’s a shitty comment. It got the shitty response it deserved. It’s not worth defending.
It could have also been his exasperated swipe at the new dandyism: showboating tattoos, douchey facial hairstyles, gothica, manlery, un-called-for scarves & hats… even I get annoyed by pretentious ads like that.
I’m giving him too much credit, but he’s got room to argue.
I have to agree. There was nothing fundamentally anti-gay about his comment. Has GLAAD extended its membership reach to the metrosexual population? Frankly, I don’t think it would bother anyone if a gay male made a favorable comment about the Beckham commercial. But a straight guy? Ewwwww.
It’s a crime to be Heterosexuality nowadays. Normal citizens shouldn’t have to walk on egg shells because others are insecure. It was a simple joke, which would have got no attention if the media didn’t blow it up. Gay jokes are very common! Give me a break?
Looks to me like GLAAD targets black men. Isaiah Washington, Tracy Morgan, now Roland Martin. Another brother on the Apology Tour. I guess white guys don’t make “homophobic” remarks at all? I’m sensing a pattern.
I love how this sort of thing has to be all of one and none of the other. Was it a stupid comment? Well, yes it was. Given that he’s a public figure on a major network – he should know how stuff like this ignites. It’s also not entirely innocent no matter how well some are spinning it. His inference is simple: a dude looking at another dude’s skimpy underwear should be hit. No spin there, that’s what he was riffing on because to him and others, that’s funny to have a dude at the game doing such a ridiculous thing.
That’s not really a five alarm fire – I’d call it some damp matches. (a side note: CNN may have been looking for any reason to get his ranting off the air – the man doesn’t debate well) He made a joke that says it’s okay to want the lame gay guy out of the room or at least tolerate him after a slap. I’m embarrassed for GLAAD to take this up as more serious than an off-color comment. I know they don’t want the line in the sand to change but it will backfire on them and by extension, gays. (which is a serious issue because most gays I know do not keep up with what most advocate groups are even doing) Sadly, what this event seems to be effective in doing is making gays even more set aside and disliked. All in all, no one is winning after that tweet.
Look at all the ugly comments on here. Homophobia runs so deep in this country it is no wonder gay kids commit suicide at such a higher rate. Do unto others people. Wow a lot of evil souls on here. All you gay people know you are on the right side of this and hang in there. Karma will bite all these people like it bite this “religious” hate monger. CNN you can do better.
Again, WHEN did THIS site become a haven for Tea Baggers? Has it been mentioned on Fox News? People, you DO realize that you’re on a Hollywood business news page, right?
“Tea Baggers”? How ironic MexyMartini since that is a gay slur. Maybe you should be banned from here too.
CNN did the right thing, but they should fire him rather than simply suspend him. They certainly have grounds. Anyone who has watched Martin over the years, knows that he is an ignorant, and often incompetent, presenter. That he would make such a comment on Twitter, without foreseeing the consequences, or that he would even think in this cruel way, is revealing. CNN cut your losses – Martin is useless. And can Piers Morgan while you’re at it. Another overhaul of the network is what is required.
Roland Martin’s “apology” is a total non-apology. Interestingly, you failed to mention that his wife runs one of those pray-the-gay-away groups so it’s no surprise this guy is a raging homophobe. The fact that CNN didn’t outright fire him (as Rick Sanchez and others have been for far less inflammatory language) says it all. CNN agrees with his hateful bile. What other conclusion can one come to?
FIRE Martin!
Don Imus was FIRED for calling women “nappy headed hos”. FIRED. And Imus didn’t get anywhere near laughingly recommending violence.
We gays don’t need ANYONE suggesting that our behavior — or simply our presence in a room, in Martin’s telling — should be met with violence, which it sometimes IS, up to and including deadly violence.
There is simply no responsible joke worth making in this area. All of the smart comedians and news commentators have long since figured this out. Do I mean to suggest that Martin isn’t smart? Do I ever. And his wife’s “conversion” program suggests that he’s far from fair-minded on gay issues. He should refrain from commenting on them, but he isn’t even smart enough to know when to remain silent.
Therefore, as a knee-slapping, “ain’t queers a trip?”, off-the-cuff proponent of homophobic violence — his tweet was ADVOCATING; he wasn’t simply making a wisecrack — he’s actually dangerous.
Which means CNN should actually fire him.