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Roland Martin.
After apologizing for what he called a misunderstanding, Roland Martin is out at CNN.
The network announced Wednesday afternoon that the analyst would be suspended for the foreseeable future.
VIDEOS: David Beckham's Underwear Ad and Other Super Bowl Commercials of 2012
"Roland Martin's tweets were regrettable and offensive," reads the statement. "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."
Prompting all of the furor was Martin's Twitter commentary on Super Bowl commercials, particularly one about the underwear clad David Beckham (below).
"If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham's H&M underwear ad," he wrote, "smack the ish out of him!"
This ad aired during the second quarter of Super Bowl XLVI.
GLAAD (Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) immediately responded by demanding his removal from the news network, though Martin insisted that his tweet was not a homophobic encouragement of violence -- but a dig at soccer fans.
STORY: Roland Martin Responds to GLAAD's Accusations of Homophobic Comments
"Let me address the issue that some in the LGBT community have raised regarding some of my Super Bowl tweets yesterday," he wrote. "I made several cracks about soccer as I do all the time. I was not referring to sexuality directly or indirectly regarding the David Beckham ad, and I'm sorry folks took it otherwise."
The apology was not enough to satisfy those calling for his removal. Following CNN's news, GLADD responded by applauding the network's actions.
"CNN today took a strong stand against anti-LGBT violence and language that demeans any community,” said GLAAD spokesperson Rich Ferraro in a statement. “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 anti-LGBT violence as well as the language that contributes to."
Martin has not yet addressed his suspension, but in keeping with his mea culpa, he linked to a story about the victim of an anti-gay beating on his blog, RolandMartinReports.com.
Leave a Comment:
Forget all this stuff. It will only make your belly hurt just thinking about it. My question is more profound and thought provoking: If Russia grabs Turkey"s rear would Greece help? Or, is the world going to go into a mass die off worrying and freting about Greece?
I hope MSNBC censors all of you gender bashers!
waaaaaaaaaaaa.
CNN never acts this fast to pull someone off the air when the comments really warrant it.
I find myself conflicted...I cant remember anything past hello that I agreed with Martin on but as usual with CNN and all these acronym organizations PC run amuck
This entire thing is totally taken out of contest. An accomplished comentator punished for making a
comment that under normal conditions would go unnoticed. on top of that the Gay group dancing on the rooftop
over Roland Martins dismissal shows those dummies who are " Light in their loafers"have their heads stuffed
where the Sun don't shine.
Wtf?
What happened to America?
how much time you got?
This causes me to wonder how real the CNN news is, or are the facts of a story changed to comply with their censorship?
But David Beckham's not gay? They must have been looking for an excuse to fire that guy. Just doesn't make sense
he's not?
It is unbelievable that CNN would respond towards Rowland Martin in this fashion. What is even more disturbing, is the fact that a some organizations spend their time looking for controversy. You would really need to be expecting and looking for negative comments in order to find a tweet that offensive. I have lost a tremendous amount of respect for CNN.
I agree with everyone that Ronald Martin was only making a friendly joke. Why would he really want to be violent against gays or lesbians. I myself who follow the teaching of the Bible does not condone gay or lesbianism acts, as the Bible states it is unnateral affection. However God loves everyone and I love everyone and would not be violent against someone because of their affiliation. Ronald Martin is an excellent commentator an I hope CNN reconsiders their decision. We the people need a democratic voice as Ronald Martin.
see the trend ? start standing up for people when their rights are being trampled. In the process of standing up for them you stand up for yourself
His response is the most lame I have ever heard. I think there could be some jealousy there because RoRo is a tad chunky and David Beckham is hunky. Would RoRo have made such a comment had the model been Whoopie Goldberg or Denzel Washington who are not soccer players. It doesn't take a linguist to decipher what RoRo's statement indicated. Shame on you, Roland. In this day and time, you should know better. You made a slur against the LGBT community and you know it. How would you have felt had someone said something about you the same way Lagerfeld said about Adele. BTW, homophobia is a serious disease. I would think you would know about tolerance and acceptance. No, I am not a member of LGBT, I am a hetero female a hetero BLACK female. SHAME ON YOU AND YOUR LAME APOLOGY!
If I typed that I am a hetero male, a hetero WHITE male, would that sound like I am somehow "separating" myself from my fellow humans? Maybe. When you make up inane names for people, you are making just as much fun and creating a prejudiced environment as if you made a racial slur.
Hypocrisy runs everywhere!!
One thing I dislike about commenting is that there are people like you COOP who don't stick to the topic. The topic is not number32, it is the tweets of Roland Martin. Leave me out of this. For your information, I made that statement because it is idiots like you who often misconstrue and I wanted Roland or anyone else to see that I was not making my comments based on race because like Roland, I am Black. In other words from my school of thoughts, BECAUSE SOMEONE IS BLACK, AND I AM BLACK, DOES NOT MAKE WHAT THEY DO A GOOD THING. I don't care if you are PLAID, if you are wrong, you are wrong. This is really a moot topic now because he is gone and so am I. BTW, I could give you an entire thesis on the term "separating". Who started that???? PEACE. I AM DONE WITH THIS!
Gee, I didn't mean to get your hypocritical blood pressure up!!!
I can't believe that he is suspended for this comment. CNN is just being ridiculous. We are way too sensitive. He didn't make a reference to anyone sexuality. PLEASE!!!!
That just makes me want to "smack the ish" outta CNN...ridiculous.
I'm not a fan of his but this is an outrage. Turning CNN off until he is hired back or given a lot of money.
Roland Martin will be working for Fox in a few weeks hope he changes his views and not be so damn raciest.
GLADD is a bunch of radicals bent on passing off their life style as "normal." They are also trying to strong-arm America into getting "minority status" just like hispanics, blacks, asians, etc. through subtle legislation i.e. gay "marriage" act. It isn't enough for them to have ALL THE RIGHTS as a hetero couple (which I would personally vote for) and call it a "union." They want it all. This way, if ANY church refuses to "marry" them, they'll suit the church under "civil rights" laws. Have you ever heard them condemn the actions of their freaked-out looking trannies and gays parading as drag nuns through a Catholic church during mass? It's OK for them to shi* on religion and make outrages and derogatory remarks. F-them. They're a bunch of hypocritical a-holes. Practice what you preach and "do unto others" (as long as you are doing it to yourselves).
Not very subtle, but I have to agree for the most part. Some GLADD demonstrations are atrocious - like the church thing. They probably have a legitimate purpose hiding in there somewhere, but they paint themselves pure hypocrites with most of the events that get media coverage at the least. I totally agree that a sexual preference is not a political movement or make you part of a politically acknowledged group. I'm a white guy that likes some women from just about any background! Vote for me and my new movement!!! peace
It's this kind of overeaction the make people intolerate. I am so sick of people (minorites/gays/aliens) acting like they have been so wronged, so discriminated against and they deserve some kind of retribution. Let me tell you in most cases you don't deserve jack. CNN should be ashamed for bowing to these small minded opportunists whose goal is to exploit misunderstandings to make a name for their cause. I have no personal like or dislike for this commentator, but I know wrong when I see it and this gentleman was wronged. Let me tell those people, you will never gain any respect for you actions and only drive a deeper wedge between the fair minded folks of this wonderful country and yourself.
I agree political correctness is out of control..............no more freedom of speech because someone is always going to be offended. What ever happened to the days when we just let things go and moved on?
Totally judgmental on cnn!! Roland is great and I hope he moves on to place that appreciates him. They made a big mistake
Makes me question the validity of their news items. Do they change the facts to comply with their internal censorship policy?
CNN you are stupid, no excuse me for saying that, you are ignorant.
This is, (Do as I say not as I do). Have you ever been to a school were 7,8,9, year old use the the 4 letter words! Movies has kids saying much the same, church people use these words indoor and out door, we all use words to say what we think . so who are they protecting??It must be the women who like other women, that can't get a man, and just plain women who have nothing better to do at home, but complain, did you see that and what they said. When will MEN make laws saying that we go back to the days were women were seen and not heard??
I really do hate gay people and I still have a job. Lucky for me I live in rural Alabama. We hate everybody.
Just one question,where is rural Alabama?(Roll Tide)
I have to say that if you put more thought to exploring your inner real position and feelings about what you so loosely said you hate....you would most definitely....as I did....discover that what you and I hate is racism, perversion, things that we commonly know that are not right, things that are used out of context and not in the true spirit....is what we hate....not the people who knowingly commit those things that are wrong.
lol!!, "we hate everybody"
Man Law - What the hell are you talking about? I had to read your reply several times before deciding I didn't give a crap. Thanks for wasting my time.
What is soccer and who is Beckman? Already gets more time on the air than it's worth.