CNN analyst Roland Martin won’t be on the news channel, at least temporarily, due to a controversy over tweets he sent out during the Super Bowl. In one tweet, he remarked that if a man is “hyped” about an underwear ad featuring soccer star David Beckham, quote, “smack the ish out of him!” CNN said Martin’s statements were regrettable, offensive and inconsistent with the company’s culture. The day after the Super Bowl, Martin said he regretted any offense his comments caused, and he did not seriously suggest striking anyone. You can check out statements from CNN and Martin below…
CNN statement:
“Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being.”
Martin said that he was a victim of bullying and has taken many stances against it during his career.
“When we witness violence in this country against someone because they are gay, or being beaten because they are Black, that speaks to a vicious cycle that seems to be never ending,” he wrote.
But he maintained that he had merely been making a joke about soccer:
My joking about smacking someone, whether it was in response to a commercial or food they prepare for a Super Bowl party or wearing an opposing team’s jersey, was stated in jest. It was not meant literally, and in no way would I ever condone someone doing such a thing. As I said repeatedly, I often make jokes about soccer in the U.S., and my crack about David Beckham’s commercial was related to that and not to anyone’s sexuality. To those who construed my comment as being anti-gay or homophobic or advancing violence, I’m truly sorry. I can certainly understand how someone could come to a different conclusion than the one I meant.
It seems like Roland just might lose his CNN gig for good, what yall think?
GTFOFHWTBS!!!! Really???!!! The gay police really needs to lighten up. Since when did it become commonplace to ride on everything that someone says? What ever happened to the 1st ammendment & freedom of speech? First of all, it was a JOKE! Nowhere in his tweet did he mention gays nor did I get where he implied that in his comment. If anyone took offense to what he said, understand that it wasn’t for you and just keep it moving. The people that did get it saw the humor & took it as just that. In no way am I homophobic, to each their own. In this society regardless of your stance on homosexuality, everyone has the right to live their lives the way that they want. That said, you can’t have it both ways. I personally know gay people who are proud of who they are and they aren’t in the closet. But you would never know that they are openly gay because what they do in their personal lives is nobody’s business. Then there are others who openly display their homosexuality because they are comfortable with who they are. Yet the minute someone says anything about it, they get offended because they are being treated “differently”. If you want to live your life openly “different” expecting everyone to accept that, then you should at least be able to respect others opinion and not be so sensitive.
I THINK ITS A BUNCH OF CRAP FOR HIM TO SAY SOME CRAP LIKE THAT ON YOUR TWITTER ADN YOU SUPPOSE TO BE A PUBLIC IMAGE COME ON NOW REALLY…. I DONT THINK HE REALLY HAVE WHAT IT TAKE ….. I HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT I WILL KEEP IT BREIF . FIRST OFF ROLAND LOOK A LITTLE GAY HIM SELF AND HE DOESNT HAVE ANY KIDS THAT SUSPECTS HE HAVE FEMINE CHARACTERISTCS SO HE PROBABLY FELT A LITTLE INSECURE ABOUT HIM SELF… SECONDLY BLACK PEOPLE SHOULD BE THE LAST ETHICITY TO TRY TO BRING A SPECIFIC GROUP DOWN ALL THE RACISM BLACK GOES THROUGH JUST FOR BEING DARKER REALLY… WE SHOULD FROM THAT … JUST LIKE WE CANT HELP THAT WE WERE BORN BLACK THEY CANT EITHER HELP THEY WERE BORN GAY … DANG … PEOPLE ARE GNORANT AND ALWAYS GOT SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT SOMETHING… FAT GAY AS*
wtf is going on in America these days u can’t express yourselve anymore are else u are a racist u hate gays,jews , animals, anything or anyone u don”t like its a crime. if the KKK can have their rights to hate anyone jews, black thats their right as it is call free speech people get your ass over it. I don’t waste my time hating anyone because no matter if your light,white with straight hair everyone have red blood and going to die sooner or later. What i am for his freedom to express yourself no matter if someone don”t like it they have a right to don”t like someone if they are gay,black,jew or whatever even through we have billion of people living on earth no one is going to live in peace.I am tired of these mob groups acting like they have a right to fired someone over their free speech.