ESPN says it has severed its relationship with singer Hank Williams Jr. following controversy over his remarks comparing President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler.
"We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams, Jr. We appreciate his contributions over the past years," a statement on ESPN's site said. "The success of Monday Night Football has always been about the games and that will continue."
Williams gave a very different statement: "After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision. By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It's been a great run."
On Tuesday the singer had apologized Tuesday for his remarks which resulted in "Monday Night Football" pulling his popular musical introduction from this week's game.
"I have always been very passionate about politics and sports and this time it got the best or worst of me.
"The thought of the leaders of both parties jukin' [sic] and high fiven' [sic] on a golf course, while so many families are struggling to get by, simply made me boil over and make a dumb statement, and I am very sorry if it offended anyone. I would like to thank all my supporters. This was not written by some publicist," Williams wrote.
Williams made the comparison on Fox News this week when he was asked about Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, playing on the same team in a June golf game.
Learn what your rights are, Hank! Hank had every right to say whatever he wanted and ESPN had every right to fire him. He isn't being imprisoned for his statement or punished by the government, which is how he is protected by the first amendment. ESPN had every right to fire an employee they thought was a bad reflection on their company. At least there's an upside, no more awful, twangy song before the football game!
hank is not an employee of espn, but whatever. who cares about some dumb country singer.
Sounds like you are a little racist towards country music, boy
Nicely stated...I could not stand him...thank you ESPN.
not racist against country music. just can't stand it. big difference, so be careful with your words, boy.
I'm –almost– certain that "Country Music" isn't a race, therefore making being "racist against country music" a statistical impossibility.
SDkay, racism toward country music??? Explain please. Did someone not serve 'country music' a meal in a public restaurant? Did someone make 'country music' sit in the back of a bus?
My my, maybe some 'country music' has associated itself / herself/ himself with rightwing nutcasers and Tpartiers. Let's therefore diss-associate [sic] ourselves from lil country music. Poo' lil baby. Whiner.
I am probably going to regret even saying something. So many of you have taken the opportunity to SCREAM OUT your racial, political, sarcastic, demeaning, back stabbing.......................comparisons and remarks, ever since Obama has taken office. I avoid politics, as we all saw during the last Address, it was pathetic to see you over aged children sit there with your arms crossed, pouting. Guess we should FIRE 'EM ALL for being such a disgrace to our political system. Oh wait, they are voicing their opinion.
I don't care about Hank Jr's comment (silly, but same as the lefties comparing Bush to Hitler)...anyway, I'm glad they're pulling the song....I'm so sick of it. I wish they'd stop trying so hard to marry the NFL to the pop culture.....how about focusing on the game? All the hooplah surrounding the game is getting so ridiculous. You know, like have 20 commentators discuss the game before kick-off....and none of them offering any significant insight.
You are so right. The great numbers of commentators talking before each game are just "talking heads." THey are quite often wrong – but then who could actually know which team is going to win the game anyway. It must be nice to have a job where all you have to do is talk. Like the political goofballs on the radio.
He never compared odumba to hitler! My lord CNN.
Well, when the woman clarified that he had done it, he said "YEA!!!". So, actually, yea, he did. Watch it again? We should ALL watch things again and again before we recklessly post, maybe...
Hank, didn't compare Obama to Hilter, maybe Stalin but not Hilter.
Well, when the woman clarified that he had done it, he said "YEA!!!". So, actually, yea, he did. Watch it again? We should ALL watch things again and again before we recklessly post, maybe...
Good Ridden, Hank !!!
Hank is completely justified leaving. Espn is just an over-sensitive corporate sucking company . I too am out of here. Good on you Hank. Shame on YOU ESPN. eXTRA sENSITIVE pLACE of nOBODIES!
I'm pretty sure Hank is leaving on his own accord. ESPN probably decided he's just too trashy for their image and dumped him. It's hardly ever the celebrity which dumps the sponsor/patron. This looks to me like Hank trying to save face.
They told him to leave. You can't leave when you aren't there any longer.
And your opinion on what happened to the Dixie Chicks, Sir?
Spock, the dixie chicks made comments at their OWN concert, about George W, also from Texas. Should the Dixie Chicks have fired themselves? They sure got ostracized by corporate right wing radio stations. I didn't hear them complain though.
I bet old First Amendment Hank was right out there defending the Dixie Chicks when they were being destroyed by all his rowdy friends.
The 1st amendment allows you to say what you want without legal repercussions. But it doesn’t make you free from public ridicule. THAT would be socialism buddy. Think before you open your mouth and make an idiot out of yourself next time.
Bad comments, from a guy who should know better. He can join Rush at the table of those ignorant big mouths that do not know when to stop.
Well done ESPN!
He embarrassed me.
ESPN – Good job. Twice you have done the class thing to do. First was NOT televising the seizure of coach Snow, now this. We all have opinions. Voicing those opinions can have consequences. Lesson: Don't be stupid on national TV
ESPN is all the is wrong in our society, report and do what they want . Like reporting on the wrongs of college corruption,but making millions off College kids, then they band wagon report about the kids breaking the rules and taking a few pennies. Then they crucify colleges on the issue when they are the number one cause of the issue with all the money the give Universities and Conferences in the sport for coverage... come on... they are owned by ABC , what do we expect from these liberal hypocrites!
Good riddance. MNF was a smashing success for the decades preceding this redneck turkey, and it will be for decades thereafter.
And BTW, I like most others believe in freedom of speech, but also in the freedom of taking responsibility for this freedom of speech and in the freedom to protect the image of my company from my obnoxious employees.
Bush is using Drones to kill drones to kill "terrorists" and children or innocents around them. The slanted biased liberal media demands his impeachment.....oh wait! Obama is using drones to kill people....oh...that's ok then.
So many hateful-liberal-Bush bashing comments were said while Bush was president....oh...that's ok...it's free speech...lets let them right a book....let's have them on our shows... HANK WILLIAMS JR. !!!!! It takes true guts standing up for the us 'little people' without a voice when you know the media, big-fat-rich network desk monkeys and liberal news hacks are going to crucify you. I am now a BIG fan!!!
I suspect you were already a fan before. Most people aren't actually open-minded, but rather look for the "facts" which support their biases. Based on your commentary, you seem to be fitting that description to a T.
Maybe your "intelligent theory" might possibly have some merit if it wasn't coming from a Numnutz ! And anyone who says "most people are actually open-minded" are usually in an academia setting and haven't experienced the real world out there. Go back to your books little boy.
I am so glad you little people buy this trash can's music releases. He gets rich, millions, you get ehmmm efff'ed, as happens usually to 'little people" Go right on worshipping your bigshot heroes. They'll laugh and cash in, and keep you out of their lives.
Fox News to use his material as opening theme songs in 5...4...3...