6-17-13
Radio received national attention Monday for all the wrong reasons. But, the punishment was quick and severe. Lincoln Financial Media Atlanta Senior Vice President and General Manager Rick Mack says Nick Cellini, Chris Dimino, and Steak Shapiro, formerly known as "Mayhem in the AM," on 790-AM The Zone in Atlanta have been fired. The three were let go after making fun of former new Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason. Gleason is suffering from ALS, is in a wheelchair, and has lost most of his motor skills.
The hosts did a bit pretending Gleason called in to their show so they could ask him questions. Most of the responses in the bit were knock-knock jokes, and at one point the caller says he doesn?t know if he will be alive next Thursday. Mack and Lincoln are now left to deal with the fallout of the show's cruel prank which was quickly criticized on social media. Here's the statement from Rick Mack.
"We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on 'Mayhem In The AM' on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS. We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment. 790 The Zone, our owners, sponsors, and partners in no way endorse or support this kind of content. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Gleason, his family, and all those touched by ALS."
More Coverage HERE at USA Today, NFL.com and CBSSports.com.
(6/18/2013 6:27:23 AM)
Management's reponse was quick and decisive. 3 people lost their jobs. Would you have the managers quit and shut down the station, too?
(6/18/2013 5:13:16 AM)
Oh look, ANOTHER comment from Ronald T. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
(6/18/2013 1:06:31 AM)
Management sure knows how to get distance in a hurry. Even as disagreeable as the comments might have been, these guys were not hired to be creamy butter tarts-of-the-air. So, they crossed an unspecified but still expertly camouflaged line. So, what. It's part of the turf.
Delivering superficial and even (possibly) insincere apologies for a crew that was making the station money five minutes before contains another brand of hypocrisy.
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