He probably wouldn't have lost his job, if he had said on his show.
Opie And Anthony Host Goes On Racist Tirade On Twitter After Alleged Attack
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benjipwns
Banned
Probably? And Facebook is so popular nobody goes there anymore?
Bobby Roberts
Banned
Just saw Michael Fleming over on Deadline do a little handwringing over the "free speech ramifications" or whatever due to his firing. Which is stupid. Almost as stupid as comparing Cumia's twitter rant to Lenny Bruce and "Blazing Saddles."
MichaelFleming said:
First of all, his livelihood isn't "ended." He's got options. Granted, they're likely not as LUCRATIVE as the options he's previously entertained, but a built-in, decades-old audience is definitely enough clay to work with to keep a financially successful enterprise going, modest as it may be.
Secondly, it's not as if Cumia is a young buck who had his opportunities in life cut short by this unfair kneecapping of his radio career. He's been a professional shitheel for over 20 years now. Two decades of 5 to 6 to 7 figure salaries for being a fucking loud jerkoff in front of a microphone. His major appreciable talent is again, being able to hold up one end of a conversation with legitimate comedians in a way that makes the comedians as entertaining in off-the-cuff conversations as they are in their rehearsed stand-up routines.
If he hasn't somehow managed to secure himself some measure of financial security through those 20 years of paychecks for being a professional shitheel, that's not Sirius' fault. That's his. As was this entire incident that got his ass bounced.
What? I know tons of other comics kill on the show. Because I've listened to them on the show.
If there's a party here trying to defend someone too much, I'm pretty sure it's not me playing Perry Mason for Mike Birbiglia.
theignoramus
Member
the firings are likely based on the fact that explicitly racist tirades make sponsors bail on your ass.
Who aside from Anthony is racist? Third time I've seen this accusation made.
He's a public figure. He could have one follower but if the mainstream news picks it up. He has to deal with the repercussions of his actions.
It's not so much "public outrage" -- this controversy is relatively minor, as far as social media controversies go.
Is it so hard to believe that a company wouldn't want to be associated with the crazed rants of a racist? I mean, I have yet to see examples of him saying things on his show that were worse than that Twitter rant. That shit was awful, and ANY company would be well within their right to say "Yo, we don't want to be associated with this shit."
If you're so concerned about public outrage, you should encourage Anthony to start a self-funded podcast. Then he'll be able to say whatever the fuck he wants without consequence.
robotzombie
Member
Except you do care. And the article doesn't present him as that, it simply doesn't make up a storyline outside of describing the alleged incident with the limited information available. It is silly to call that article out as having some kind of agenda, I'm sure there are a mess of examples you could already use.
But when you are standing on a slant I guess everything else looks slanted...
Another guy in this thread who is an avid show listener like you said that Opie mentioned dabbling in Anthony's views or something like that. If Anthony's racism, as it seems to be, a big part of the show, it stands to reason that those who participate in it give it a silent nod of approval.
If he had posted it on Facebook, someone would have reposted it on Twitter.
Bobby Roberts
Banned
Radio's always been seen as a somewhat necessary evil for touring comedians. When you wind up on a morning show where the hosts know how to set you up and get out of your way, or can provide you interesting conversational avenues to get some good laughs, you appreciate it all the more compared to the 5-15 minutes you have to do between Pitbull songs on Banana Boat and the Teamster, Mornings 97.5 Poughkeepsie.
So audience size in a giant media market plus their ability (in most cases) to provide them an atmosphere to showcase their talents is valuable enough - especially since Cumia provides them an opportunity to look funnier AND smarter by dint of just standing next to him.
Part of the reason Podcasting is as glutted as it is now is because a lot of comedians realized you don't really have to do a bunch of bullshit radio interviews if you can get 30-75k subscribers for your OWN "radio show."
benjipwns
Banned
It was originally one of the few outlets that was much more lax in who they would let on, similar to Howard Stern and David Letterman initially you never had to be a "name" comedian just someone to vouch for you, and then once you build up a network and friendships...
The article doesn't need to make up a storyline to present more of the facts than it does.
they have to sell tickets to their shows. these kinda shows have a lot of stand up comedy fans.
He did but he actually didn't provide proof, and as I pointed out to him Opie will often say dumb things out of nervousness or his lack of comedic talent. The same poster also said Jim Norton is racist, which is about the funniest thing I've ever heard.
This is such a giant leap in logic that I really don't know what to say. They have argued with him before, but when you're part of a radio show that keeps you very wealthy, it's not the easiest thing in the world to tell one of the main attractions what he can and can't talk about. The same thing happens with Opie; he's really, REALLY stupid and says mind-boggling dumb things, but he's never called out on it just to keep things smooth. Or with Jim Norton when he's throwing a temper tantrum because another comic didn't respond to him fast enough via Twitter. There's no "approval", it's just being quiet and hoping the awkwardness passes so they can continue to take home fat paychecks.
Honestly, calling someone a racist with no evidence in an era where being one can cost you your job (clearly) is, as I said earlier in the thread, disgusting behavior. It's not something you should throw about so carelessly, especially when all you've got is conjecture.
water_wendi
Water is not wet!
Holy shit at them tweets.
And that makes it fine? Well, carry on then.
water_wendi
Water is not wet!
Theres enough people who believe what this man says to support him until the day he dies.
Freedom of speech is a stupid argument.
He's free to say this stuff. They're free not to employ him. That's what freedom is. Instead, they want to be free from consequences and public reaction, which is exact opposite of their usual rhetoric about manning up.
Didn't Stern used to hate these clowns? What are they doing on his network.
He's free to say this stuff. They're free not to employ him. That's what freedom is. Instead, they want to be free from consequences and public reaction, which is exact opposite of their usual rhetoric about manning up.
Didn't Stern used to hate these clowns? What are they doing on his network.
old
Member
Sirius and XM merged in 2008, thus merging the two shows onto one network.
Riposte
Member
Actually, most of the guest comedians, at least the ones with a lot of appearances, seem to have a special relationship with O&A versus other shows (Louis CK has even gone as far as to point this out for himself). There seems to be a social circle of northeastern comedians (including the Tough Crowd guys, e.g., Norton) and O&A is apart of that to some extent. The short of it is probably that they are friends and they have fun.
Saying the show is defined by Anthony's racist views might be going a bit too far. Outside the explosive showstopping rants (literally, in this case), it's usually little more than edgy humor (including laughing at the fact he's such a racist) among edgy humor on every topic. That said, Anthony's presence did make the show lean right politically, there was no escaping that.
John DaBella was just a Zoo Keeper in Philadelphia. lol
I haven't listened to the show in many years, but those comments seem tame compared with some of the things he and Patrice use to say.
I'm not defending him, I support Sirius hiring/firing whoever they want, but its amusing that its taken this long for them to realize they hired someone that has never been shy about being a racist.
I'm not defending him, I support Sirius hiring/firing whoever they want, but its amusing that its taken this long for them to realize they hired someone that has never been shy about being a racist.
Arozay
Member
What Colin Quinn said: "He shouldn't taken pic. She shouldn't cracked him. He shouldn't tweeted about anybody except her. Sirius shouldn't have fired him."
There's been a lot of obligatory Patrice references but he really did keep Anthony in check, probably since Patrice was also a self-admitted racist. It's a shame that the racism overtook the funny in the end, since Ant himself is one of the wittiest guys alive when he has the opportunity.
Or this could just be a big advertisement for the format change to a podcast.
The 2006-2010 period was like a comedy goldmine and some of the best radio out there. XM merger + podcasts + people dying took their toll on the show.
There's been a lot of obligatory Patrice references but he really did keep Anthony in check, probably since Patrice was also a self-admitted racist. It's a shame that the racism overtook the funny in the end, since Ant himself is one of the wittiest guys alive when he has the opportunity.
Or this could just be a big advertisement for the format change to a podcast.
The 2006-2010 period was like a comedy goldmine and some of the best radio out there. XM merger + podcasts + people dying took their toll on the show.
MWS Natural
Member
He's probably already working on a Fox News late night show.
vas_a_morir
Banned
Was that his salary, or his ex-wife's? kappa
He may be too anti-Christian to be on Fox News.
benjipwns
Banned
He's on Fox News regularly, initially it was as a Red Eye guest since Jim Norton and others were semi-regulars, but he's shown up on Hannity and stuff in the recent months.
NYR
Member
It's what's best for business. Besides, Stern put an injunction on them, they can't talk about him anymore. Serious, look it up, he used his power to shut them up.
vas_a_morir
Banned
Well, I mean as a host of his own show. But, to be honest, I can't imagine him behaving long enough to be on basic cable, so I'm impressed he was able to be on the channel and get invited back.
Patrice used to go on there from time to time, but after the rape-joke thing, he never was allowed back. lol
vas_a_morir
Banned
IT's a classic. "'I'm diabetic; I make jokes about that. I'm a victim. I might lose a toe."
Goddamnit I miss Patrice, he was one of my favorite people ever.
Death Metalist
Member
Twitter really is the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to making people act stupid and or out of control.
That's actually Jon Gabrus playing Gino the Intern. He was on an episode with Mike Birbiglia though.
EscoBlades
Ubisoft Marketing
If you are thinking of bringing up "freedom of speech" to defend this guy...please just STOP.
the escape plan
Neo Member
Being an avid listener for years, I'm not really surprised by this. He was aware his thoughts and words outside the workplace could get him fired.
From what people have written, it sounds like he was on the way out anyway and wanted to martyr himself to rally supporters for his podcast or whatever he's doing next.
That, or he's just bat shit crazy. Sirius seems like a network that will tolerate racism/sexism if it's profitable, but if you start acting unhinged, they worry what's next.
Ooh you're right.
antikythera
Banned
True, but the leftists saying this would be quick to vilify any company that fired someone for, say, supporting gay marriage. Logical consistency isn't important to leftists; what's important is that people whose opinions fall outside Acceptable Boundaries are removed. It would actually be a respectable stance if it wasn't subconscious.
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