Anthony Cumia (Opie and Anthony) Fired

[Derek Sutton]

Sirius XM fired Ant over his recent twitter posts. Should this be allowed? It has happened in the past, where social media comments have cost people their job, but nothing was posted that he hasn't said on air many times. There is lots to the story and of course there is the racism angel, but these same words come out of his mouth on a weekly basis on the air and nothing happens. Also ironic that on 4th of July someone is fired due to freedom of speech.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014...-twitter-rant/

As a loyal listener over the past 7 years, personally I think he he wanted this to happen.

[SportsJunky]

No way! I like him. Why would he want this to happen? Although I definitely think he's better suited now to more of a right wing talk show then O&A is.

[Street Pharmacist]

Definitely can fire someone for what they write on Social Media. You are representing your employer at all times, so what you broadcast can definitely be grounds for firing.

And for the crap he actually wrote? Good thing too. What did he expect?

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

Also ironic that on 4th of July someone is fired due to freedom of speech.

I haven't read the whole thing or am familiar with the situation but my understanding is that freedom of speech does not equal immunity to the consequences of what you say or that it somehow provides a shield which covers you from positive or negative reactions to your words.

That said, I'm curious about the situation and will likely read the article and see what's been going on.

[Coach]

Yeah I would agree with Street Pharmacist. Never heard this show before but those comments are pretty bad, even if he's being satirical. Tone can't be determined in text.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Definitely can fire someone for what they write on Social Media. You are representing your employer at all times, so what you broadcast can definitely be grounds for firing.

And for the crap he actually wrote? Good thing too. What did he expect?

He literally says the same stuff on a regular basis though, which is brodcast around the world. The media and nothing else has caused this firing. Anyone not familiar with the show will have nothing good to say by simply reading the online sources.

[SportsJunky]

I'm not defending him but he has said at least as bad over the airwaves. I wonder if Sirius had previously warned him?

He has many times come close to stepping over the line in recent years when it came to racist comments. He might have thought that he knew where the line was on twitter. Not the same I guess as saying it on subscription radio. Plus, on the radio he could chuckle a bit so that the public wouldn't think it was total hate speech but made more in a joking way. The more I think about it the more I think he had this coming.

Sorry Anthony but you were the author of your own demise here.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

Sirius XM fired Ant over his recent twitter posts. Should this be allowed? It has happened in the past, where social media comments have cost people their job, but nothing was posted that he hasn't said on air many times. There is lots to the story and of course there is the racism angel, but these same words come out of his mouth on a weekly basis on the air and nothing happens. Also ironic that on 4th of July someone is fired due to freedom of speech.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014...-twitter-rant/

As a loyal listener over the past 7 years, personally I think he he wanted this to happen.

The worst type of angels! j/k

[RougeUnderoos]

What does it matter how often he says it or where it is broadcast?

I've never listened to this guy, but this was an example of what he said on Twitter:

"It's a jungle out in our cities after midnight. Violent savages own the streets. They all came 2 defend this pig. I had to yell like at dogs

Now, is this some sort of satire? Like is he making fun of the dumb racists who think and talk like this? Or is this his voice?

If he says this kind of stuff on the air all the time, why would anyone listen to this?

[socalwingfan]

He'll get liquored up this weekend and broadcast from his home studio - should be quite the gong show

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

He literally says the same stuff on a regular basis though, which is brodcast around the world. The media and nothing else has caused this firing. Anyone not familiar with the show will have nothing good to say by simply reading the online sources.

That's exactly it though. This is bad enough on the context of a comedy show that only people looking for heating Anthony speak will hear vs what will be broadcast to the media and others that don't listen.

It's crap either way, but don't put it where it has no context. It's dumb and dangerous to the employer. He forced their hand

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by chemgear

I haven't read the whole thing or am familiar with the situation but my understanding is that freedom of speech does not equal immunity to the consequences of what you say or that it somehow provides a shield which covers you from positive or negative reactions to your words.

That said, I'm curious about the situation and will likely read the article and see what's been going on.

Amen. Why so many people quote free speech when not talking about government persecution is beyond me. It's just as much free speech for the employer to control what their company says via its employees

[undercoverbrother]

damn it!

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

What does it matter how often he says it or where it is broadcast?

I've never listened to this guy, but this was an example of what he said on Twitter:

"It's a jungle out in our cities after midnight. Violent savages own the streets. They all came 2 defend this pig. I had to yell like at dogs

Now, is this some sort of satire? Like is he making fun of the dumb racists who think and talk like this? Or is this his voice?

If he says this kind of stuff on the air all the time, why would anyone listen to this?

There is no mention of race in the tweet you quoted, (that'd be his defense) that is his thing though, splitting heirs when it comes to stereotyping.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

He literally says the same stuff on a regular basis though, which is brodcast around the world. The media and nothing else has caused this firing. Anyone not familiar with the show will have nothing good to say by simply reading the online sources.

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

I'm not defending him but he has said at least as bad over the airwaves.

Reading more into this and ! Yeah not sure what you can really expect for yourself by saying and posting things in the public space like that.

Just because he's been doing this before doesn't make it right or excusable.

As you say, I had no idea of this guy before your post and the media reporting. But isn't that the most basic point of having the media in the first place? To inform the public of things, expose things that people want to know. Like if a publicly traded company supports, employs, fires or disciplines people who openly say stuff like that. Maybe it was overdue, but letting it continue probably wasn't in the best interest of Sirius.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

He literally says the same stuff on a regular basis though, which is brodcast around the world. The media and nothing else has caused this firing. Anyone not familiar with the show will have nothing good to say by simply reading the online sources.

I don't think you understand what freedom of speech is, nor do I think you understand what irony is. There is nothing ironic about an American being fired on Independence Day. In fact, it seems like it would be a literal thing, since he is now independent.

Freedom of speech has several categories that are excluded from the freedom. Freedom of speech is not what these tweets were about. You may have the right to say something, but that doesn't mean you are free from repercussions. In my employee contract I have a clause that basically says not to bring shame to my employer. If I went and tweeted a bunch of seemingly racist rants, I'd be fired too, even if I had said these things at work with my boss. Just because something isn't illegal, doesn't mean you can't be fired for it.

[Resolute 14]

Yup. "Freedom of speech" is meant to protect you from government abuse over said speech. It does not act as a shield from social or professional consequences.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

That's exactly it though. This is bad enough on the context of a comedy show that only people looking for heating Anthony speak will hear vs what will be broadcast to the media and others that don't listen.

It's crap either way, but don't put it where it has no context. It's dumb and dangerous to the employer. He forced their hand

Well it was on his personal twitter, which has some 150k subscribed followers, who have seeked him out. Not a whole lot different from the unknown amount of subscribed listeners who tune in regularly or occaissionaly. The fact is the press are miserable and lazy and are only reporting this as it fell on their lap.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

"It's a jungle out in our cities after midnight. Violent savages own the streets. They all came 2 defend this pig. I had to yell like at dogs

Am I missing something as to why this is considered racist? Were there previous tweets or something? I'd say this referring to any of the little ####s that are out there car prowling and swarm beating kids these days.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

I don't think you understand what freedom of speech is, nor do I think you understand what irony is. There is nothing ironic about an American being fired on Independence Day. In fact, it seems like it would be a literal thing, since he is now independent.

Freedom of speech has several categories that are excluded from the freedom. Freedom of speech is not what these tweets were about. You may have the right to say something, but that doesn't mean you are free from repercussions. In my employee contract I have a clause that basically says not to bring shame to my employer. If I went and tweeted a bunch of seemingly racist rants, I'd be fired too, even if I had said these things at work with my boss. Just because something isn't illegal, doesn't mean you can't be fired for it.

Yes but have been you employed for the past 20 years to express your uncensored thoughts and opinions, to the world? A radio talk show host ( "a shockjock") has a different level of what is accepted and what isn't.