XM Radio Suspends Opie & Anthony

[Left Hook]

Source: XM Official Site

XM Radio Suspends Opie & Anthony
WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XM Radio announced today that the company has suspended Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia, hosts of "The Opie & Anthony Show" and ceased broadcast of the show for 30 days, effective immediately.

XM Radio deplored the comments aired on "The Opie & Anthony Show" last week. At the time, the company strongly expressed its views to Opie and Anthony, and they issued an immediate apology.

Comments made by Opie and Anthony on yesterday's broadcast put into question whether they appreciate the seriousness of the matter. The management of XM Radio decided to suspend Opie and Anthony to make clear that our on-air talent must take seriously the responsibility that creative freedom requires of them.

Read more: http://xmradio.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=1452

[sharp_stick]

1. I can't believe those two moronic shits are still on the air

They were only eclipsed by the idiotic nonsense that was bubba the love sponge, now relegated to some backwater on Sirius I believe.

[itcfish]

38. Exactly What Did They

Say? :wtf:

:wow:

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. What about the right wing guys who spread that lie about the

KS governor and Howard Dean last week? Did they get suspended too?

[madfloridian]

6. XM did not take responsibility for Dean and Sebelius attacks.

Brownback cleared them. No one else did, not even the left bloggers.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1315

XM denied they were responsible.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1313

I am very angry that no one took up for them in our blogger community.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. So why weren't they suspended?

[madfloridian]

20. They said it was Clear Channel.

:shrug:

[leftwingnut]

3. ummm....

screw XM radio!!!

what the fuck do they know about "creative freedom"?

I understand they're a company and they can fire employees anytime they want...but just don't mention anything about "creative freedoms"...just come out and say you've been wanting to get rid of those two for awhile now and this was the opportunity to do it.

I don't give a shit about Opie and Anthony...never listened to them...but let's slow down on the 'creative freedom' bullshit.

[I Have A Dream]

4. I'm happy to hear this. n/t

[hoboken123]

26. My stomach turns...

...when freepers and DU posters start agreeing on topics like this.


Uncensored subscription-only program suspended due to craven political pandering to the Bush Administration in hopes of a longshot merger?

Yeah, that should make everyone happy.

[I Have A Dream]

31. To each his or her own. n/t

[TlalocW]

5. I seem to recall a few commercials

They did extolling how wonderful it was going to be working for XM radio and having more freedom to say what they wanted.

Ooops.

tlalocW

[mcscajun]

7. Glad to hear it. It's unfortunate it's ONLY a suspension, as I seriously doubt

they'll change their behavior all that much upon their return.

XM didn't fire them as their following is HUGE; hell, they've got their own channel on XM.

[dubyaD40web]

8. I'm no fan of O&A...

However, if I was, and an XM subscriber, I'd be pissed. Wasn't that why they went to XM in the first place?

[MousePlayingDaffodil]

18. I AM an XM subscriber . . .

. . . and I AM pissed. I'm seriously considering canceling my subscription. If O&A aren't back after 30 days, I'm sure I will.

[whopis01]

29. Pissed because XM has higher standards

than to turn rape into a joke?

[hoboken123]

33. They suddenly have higher standards? Please

They're worried about their longshot merger and are sucking up to the Bush Administration.

Surprised people on this site enjoy that.

[BootinUp]

37. surprised

people defend the lame comedians? because of which name they used as the victim in their sad attempt at humor.

[hoboken123]

39. "Their attempt"?

Honestly, couldn't you at least know the basic details of the story before commenting?

[BootinUp]

41. .

I do.

[hoboken123]

42. Obviously not

...but why let facts get in the way?

[Taverner]

9. As deplorable as their show is

It gives me one more reason to stay with Sirius.

I don't like censorship period, even if I have no plans on listening to it.

[soothsayer]

10. I'm with you, but I suspect this has more to do with the merger than with

true censorship. If O&A are jeopardizing it, better to get them out of the way.

[Taverner]

13. It could be...I dunno

I just don't like being told what I can't hear. And in effect, that is what they are doing.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. I have XM because of AAR

[Taverner]

15. that's why I got Sirius

They used to carry it.

And when they carried it, it was the entire stream, not just the greatest hits.

AND I used to be able to hear Malloy on my ride home

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Ah I miss those days

I just happened to buy a new car right after AAR switched to XM so I got XM. I liked Sirius left though.

[Rude Horner]

14. What did they say that got them suspended? n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. They told a joke

about Condi and a rape.

[TecnoCrat]

34. NO NO NO NO NO

Sorry, I'm a fan of O&A. They did not tell a joke about rape.

They had a homeless man in studio, he made comments about rape. That's all. They said nothing of the sort.

I'm tired of seeing that they said it. If Ed Schultz had someone in studio who made a very inappropriate comment, would you be on the bandwagon to get him suspended/fired?

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. So how did Condi fit in?

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. Ok I just listened to it

Here is a link to the audio:

http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=450

First of all, it's not very funny. Secondly, this 'guest' did make comments about forced sex with Condi. BUT O&A were definitely a part of the conversation. You make it sound like they did nothing. Listen to the audio. They are not innocent.

Now I will add that I don't find this all that offensive. Gross, yes. Crude, yes. But certainly nothing worth being suspended over.

[thereismore]

19. Good. Morans. nt

[MLFerrell]

21. What did they do?

[FloridaJudy]

22. Told a rape joke

You can hear it here. Be warned, it's pretty disgusting. I'm no fan of Condi Rice, but this would offend almost any woman.

http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2007/05/rape-jokes-about-condi-rice-on-cbs.html

[leQ]

23. they look like the meth heads down the street from me seriously. scary (eom)

[hoboken123]

24. I love judging people by their looks

It makes everything so much simpler.

[Honeycombe8]

32. Yes, I agree....sign me...

Sign me....

Opie.

:silly:

[Loge23]

25. Wrong direction: Straight ahead

Disclosure: I am an XM subscriber but I have never listened to this program. When(If) they come back, maybe I'll start.
I listened to the tape in question (from the link herein) and I don't why this so offensive to people that don't listen to this program.
The "comedian" doing the talking did not advocate a rape as I heard it. This was basically Andrew Dice Clay shtick.
You don't like it? Either do I. That's why I don't listen. But suspending them? Why not just fire them. Let's just become the theocratic fascist state that the brain-dead idiots in this country seem to want to become. No choice, no "creative" anything.
We can argue the finer merits of Sharpton, Imus, and everyone else caught up in the PCUSA. But we're forgetting - and forfeiting - the reason we were once proud to be Americans.
I'll now exercise what's left of my personal freedom to post this and send my dissent to XM.
You disagree with me - fine. Block me. Why not, it's all the rage these days.

Fuck authority.

[BootinUp]

28. The shit wasn't even funny, if they ever were funny

They long since lost it. That was the stupidest lamest skit I ever heard broadcast. And who cares what happens to them with regards to their job, its not a right to piss off your employer and not get canned or suspended.

[MsUnderstood]

27. okay so I don't understand

Broadcasters on XM can LIE about a "source" to spread a political untruth about a disaster in Kansas that can ruin a politician's career and NOTHING HAPPENS.

But if broadcasters on XM tell an obscene joke they get suspended for 30 days becuase it was not nice?

Politcal Correctness, hear it roar?!?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

30. funny how nonpolitcal shows are the only ones cracked down on

yet savage, boortz, limabugh and beck go lying on day after day

[bennie]

40. It's XM's shop. They can call it as they see it.

If it was up to me, A&O or anyone else can say whatever they want. But XM has to answer to subscribers and ultimately stockholders. If someone is costing you money, you clip their wings.
That being said, it's not that different here at D.U. If some troll comes in trying to start a bunch of crap, they can be suspended or even banned.