Should Roland Martin Have Been Suspended? I Don't Think So.

CNN analyst Roland Martin won’t be on the news channel, at least temporarily, due to a controversy over tweets he sent out during the Super Bowl. In one tweet, he remarked that if a man is “hyped” about an underwear ad featuring soccer star David Beckham, quote, “smack the ish out of him!” CNN said Martin’s statements were regrettable, offensive and inconsistent with the company’s culture. The day after the Super Bowl, Martin said he regretted any offense his comments caused, and he did not seriously suggest striking anyone. You can check out statements from CNN and Martin below…

CNN statement:
“Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being.”

Martin said that he was a victim of bullying and has taken many stances against it during his career.
“When we witness violence in this country against someone because they are gay, or being beaten because they are Black, that speaks to a vicious cycle that seems to be never ending,” he wrote. But he maintained that he had merely been making a joke about soccer: “My joking about smacking someone, whether it was in response to a commercial or food they prepare for a Super Bowl party or wearing an opposing team’s jersey was stated in jest. It was not meant literally, and in no way would I ever condone someone doing such a thing. As I said repeatedly, I often make jokes about soccer in the U.S., and my crack about David Beckham’s commercial was related to that and not to anyone’s sexuality. To those who construed my comment as being anti-gay or homophobic or advancing violence, I’m truly sorry. I can certainly understand how someone could come to a different conclusion than the one I meant.”

GTFOFHWTBS!!!! Really???!!! The gay police really needs to lighten up. Since when did it become commonplace to ride on everything that someone says? What ever happened to the 1st amendment & freedom of speech? First of all, it was a JOKE! Nowhere in his tweet did he mention gays nor did I get where he implied that in his comment. If anyone took offense to what he said, understand that it wasn’t for you and just keep it moving. The people that did get it saw the humor & took it as just that. In no way am I homophobic, to each their own. In this society regardless of your stance on homosexuality (I personally believe in Adam & Eve, not Adam & Steve), everyone has the right to live their lives the way that they want. That said, you can’t have it both ways. I personally know gay people who are proud of who they are and they aren’t in the closet. But you would never know that they are openly gay because what they do in their personal lives is nobody’s business. Then there are others who openly display their homosexuality because they are comfortable with whom they are. Yet the minute someone says anything about it, they get offended because they are being treated “differently”. If you want to live your life openly “different” expecting everyone to accept that, then you should at least be able to respect others opinion and not be so sensitive. What do you think?