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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Jul 4, 2014 14:15:40 GMT -6
variety.com/2014/biz/news/siriusxm-fires-opie-and-anthony-host-for-racist-comments-1201258179/SiriusXM has fired Anthony Cumia, one-half of the longtime radio program “Opie and Anthony,” over racially-charged comments he made earlier in the week. Cumia, who was also fired from a Boston station in 1998 for falsely reporting the death of the city’s mayor, called a black woman a “pig” and “an animal” on Twitter after she allegedly punched him in the face for trying to take a photo. He then said several black men came to her defense. “There’s a deep seeded problem with violence in the black community,” Cumia ranted, “It’s really open season on white people in this day and age. No recourse. Fight back and you’re a racist. The predators know this. Good luck.” Sirius confirmed his departure in a statement. “SiriusXM has terminated its relationship with Anthony Cumia of the Opie & Anthony channel. The decision was made, and Cumia informed, late Thursday, July 3, after careful consideration of his racially charged and hate-filled remarks on social media. Those remarks and postings are abhorrent to SiriusXM, and his behavior is wholly inconsistent with what SiriusXM represents.” Cumia, who also tweeted “I hope she gets shot,” has since posted a message saying he plans to think things over during the holiday weekend before signing off with “F— Sirius.”
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Jul 6, 2014 8:04:38 GMT -6
www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/opie-anthony-fans-lash-at-716833'Opie and Anthony' Fans Lash Out at SiriusXM for Firing Host Many of Anthony Cumia's supporters have threatened to cancel their subscriptions to the satellite radio service, while several well-known comedians have rallied behind the host after his racist tirade. A number of Opie and Anthony fans have lashed out at SiriusXM after the satellite radio company fired Anthony Cumia on July 3 for racist comments he tweeted earlier in the week. Cumia's supporters have launched a Twitter campaign, using the hashtag #CancelSiriusXM, to encourage the show's listeners to cancel their SiriusXM subscriptions. Some fans have replaced their Twitter avatars with an image showing the iconic drawing of Argentine revolutionary and Cuban Revolution figure Che Guevara, but with Cumia's face superimposed on it. Fans have also used the hashtags #JusticeForAnt and #StandWithAnt in tweets. A petition on Change.org to reinstate Cumia has garnered roughly 5,000 signatures, and supporters plan to protest outside of SiriusXM's New York City offices on Monday, July 7. Several well-known comedians have tweeted their support for Cumia. Jim Norton, who has been a regular guest on Opie and Anthony, wrote on July 3: "@anthonycumia is physically assaulted and for some reason, the story is about him reacting angrily on Twitter?" Other comedians were in direct opposition to the firing. Colin Quinn tweeted: "Sirius shouldn't have fired him. #facts." And Ralphie May tweeted: "Anyone should be able to say as they will especially on Twitter without losing their job. #standwithant." The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to SiriusXM for comment about the fan reaction and is awaiting response. Earlier in the week, Cumia alleged on Twitter that an African-American woman had attacked him in NYC. The radio host made numerous racist remarks and used slurs in the tirade, including calling her a "lucky savage" and saying that he hopes "a home boy beats her to death."
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Jul 12, 2014 17:26:02 GMT -6
variety.com/2014/biz/news/fired-opie-and-anthony-host-wont-apologize-1201261702/Anthony Cumia, fired host of Sirius XM’s “Opie and Anthony Show,” defended himself today during his first post-scandal TV appearance. Cumia was given the boot after making racially-charged comments on Twitter last week. “I will never apologize for this; I didn’t do anything wrong,” Cumia said on Fox’s “Red Eye” on Saturday morning, as reported by Mediaite. “I go off on tears like this. I curse. I say horrific things about people who piss me off and that’s exactly what I did. Why am I going to apologize and say I am different or I changed? I haven’t. It would be a phony bogus apology. If it happened again, I would do the same thing.” Cumia, who called a black woman a “pig” and “an animal” after she allegedly punched him in the face for trying to take a photo, said his comments weren’t racist as he wasn’t referring to all black people, just those who happen to be violent. The radio shock jock described SiriusXM’s actions as “hypocritical” because he hasn’t been punished before for making similar comments on air for 10 years. “To fire me for something on social media is kind of hypocritical, I think,” Cumia said. “There wasn’t even any outrage. No one approached SiriusXM and said ‘Oh my God, you’ve got to fire him.’ It was such a kneejerk reaction in this day and age.”
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