Editor's Choice
 |
Foie gras farmers force-feed for fuel
French farmers who force-feed their ducks to produce foie gras for the luxury food market, are turning their attention to alternative fuels, using excess duck fat to run deisel vehicles. Video
CNN suspends Roland Martin over anti-gay tweets
A Twitter page is displayed on a laptop computer in Los Angeles October 13, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni
LOS ANGELES |
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Cable TV network CNN said on Wednesday it has suspended commentator Roland Martin over a series of Twitter remarks during the Super Bowl game that offended America's gay community.
"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," the TV news network said in a statement.
Martin on Sunday made a series of Twitter remarks that poked fun at British soccer player David Beckham's new underwear ad for fashion retailer H&M and at a New England Patriot football player for wearing a pink suit.
Martin tweeted: "If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham's H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him! #superbowl", as well as, "Who the hell was that New England Patriot they just showed in a head to toe pink suit? Oh, he needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass"
His remarks provoked protests by gay and lesbian activist group GLAAD, which said Martin was advocating violence against gay people.
"CNN today took a strong stand against anti-LGBT violence and language that demeans any community," GLAAD spokesman Rich Ferraro said in a statement following CNN's decision to suspend Martin.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
- Tweet this
- Link this
- Share this
- Digg this
- Reprints
Let’s get a sense of humor, some common sense, and refrain from attempting to read into things that just simply aren’t there in order to grab the limelight. These “activist” groups that cry foul at every little thing make me thankful I am an independently-thinking, rational, and grounded gay man who sees life outside of his sexuality.
Follow Reuters