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Rick336
01-24-2008, 11:30 PM
From the Advocate news:

Fox News Commentator Criticized for Crass Ledger Remarks

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is urging people to protest homophobic comments made by a far-right pundit concerning Heath Ledger and his character in Brokeback Mountain.

On Tuesday, just a few hours after the announcement of Ledger's death, Fox News radio host John Gibson played an audio clip of the iconic quote "I wish I knew how to quit you" from Brokeback Mountain and then quipped, "Well, he found out how to quit you." Laughing, Gibson then played another clip from Brokeback in which Ledger said, "We’re dead," followed by his own, mocking "We’re dead" before playing the clip again.

On Wednesday Gibson responded to criticism from ThinkProgress.org, defending his remarks and saying that it was just “a little Brokeback Mountain joke” and there is “no point in passing up a good joke.” Without offering any apology, Gibson claimed that “for months and months and months” he has consistently made fun of the line “I wish I knew how to quit you,” adding, “I’m not giving that up.”

“Gibson’s remarks are vulgar and disgusting,” said Rashad Robinson, GLAAD’s senior director of media programs, in a press release. “It’s sickening that Gibson would exploit Heath Ledger’s tragic death to promote such hurtful intolerance. And to do so at a time when family and friends are grieving shows a level of insensitivity that is beyond the pale.”

According to GLAAD, Gibson also called Ledger a "weirdo" with a "serious drug problem." In 2006, following the release of Brokeback Mountain, he called the film a "gay agenda movie." (The Advocate)


You can give your opinion to Fox News at: myword@foxnews.com

http://Advocate.com

Unmasked
01-25-2008, 03:36 AM
This is horrible. Doesn't anybody have any respect for the dead? I would encourage everybody to tell Fox News what they think of Gibson's insensitivity.

BruceChris
01-25-2008, 06:12 AM
Gibson totally conflates the actor with the role that he portrayed. Since we may assume that he did not get to his present position thru lack of intelligence, we are forced to assume that he is being both mean spirited and dishonest. Kinda like Phred. Just another reason that it's called "Faux News". :confused: :eek: :( :(

Namaste', Bruce Chris

adaptgazan
01-25-2008, 09:08 AM
Violence against a friend-We can not be silent!
Why not some ANGELS ( in beautiful white drag --or regular wear nonviolently address this issue in person?) Other ideas?
--
Who else will take up the cause without violence? SOULFORCE and like people

I trust yall as soulforce and Rev. Mel to do the right thing. I will be organizing in Atlanta GA ( unless I can get a way there)
(adaptgazan@gmail.com/ 678 358 9540 )

Hi Rev. Mel-it's Zan from The Gandhi India trip. Keep up the GREAT work!
Phelps to Protest Ledger's Funeral

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid51800.asp

pnggrad79
01-25-2008, 11:42 AM
I wrote an email to John Gibson expressing my outrage at his insensitive, hateful comments about Heath Ledger. This guy has no right to disparage the dead or what Ledger accomplished during his brief life.

tpdncr4christ
01-25-2008, 05:46 PM
Violence against a friend-We can not be silent!
Why not some ANGELS ( in beautiful white drag --or regular wear nonviolently address this issue in person?) Other ideas?
--
Who else will take up the cause without violence? SOULFORCE and like people

I trust yall as soulforce and Rev. Mel to do the right thing. I will be organizing in Atlanta GA ( unless I can get a way there)
(adaptgazan@gmail.com/ 678 358 9540 )

Hi Rev. Mel-it's Zan from The Gandhi India trip. Keep up the GREAT work!
Phelps to Protest Ledger's Funeral

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid51800.asp

Why don't we go and pray for these folks? Just silently kneel next to the protest, no outrage, no pickets, just prayer. Nothing else seems to work.

pnggrad79
01-25-2008, 07:37 PM
TP,
You are probably right on this one. Respond to this outrage with the thing that is lacking the most-love, respect, grace....Novel idea!

tpdncr4christ
01-25-2008, 08:53 PM
TP,
You are probably right on this one. Respond to this outrage with the thing that is lacking the most-love, respect, grace....Novel idea!

I try and pray for them every night. Only, I don't think that my prayers are quite enough... I really think that a mass of people kneeling across the street where ever the protectors go might just make them go away.

Daniel
01-26-2008, 08:13 AM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/25/fox-host-john-gibson-mock_n_82962.html


UPDATE: John Gibson has "apologized" for his distasteful comments on Heath Ledger's death. Though he first defended his statements on his radio show yesterday — there is "no point in passing up a good joke," he said, and repeated his "Brokeback Mountain" joke saying, "I'm not giving that up" — he eventually caved to pressure to apologize and did so on his television show.

Still, his apology seemed forced, and relatively half-hearted:

Those who knew him say he was a good actor and a loving dad. And what happened to him was terrible, but was evidently an accident. Once again, to anyone offended by my comments, I'm sorry. But I'm also sorry that Heath Ledger is no longer alive and with us.
ThinkProgress has the audio of Gibson's defense of his comments, and MediaMatters has the video of his "apology."

Despicable!

Daniel
01-26-2008, 08:17 AM
I try and pray for them every night. Only, I don't think that my prayers are quite enough... I really think that a mass of people kneeling across the street where ever the protectors go might just make them go away.

http://www.soulforce.org/forums/showpost.php?p=50603&postcount=18