Atlanta radio hosts fired for segment making fun of Steve Gleason's battle with ALS
Steve Gleason is battling ALS. (Ted Jackson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
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Atlanta radio hosts associated with "Mayhem in the AM," a sports talk show on WQXI-AM, "790 The Zone," have been fired after running a segment poking fun at former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason, who is battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ALS is a degenerative disease that attacks motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, atrophying the muscles and eventually causing paralysis.
The three show hosts, Nick Cellini, Steak Shapiro and Chris Dimino, were initially handed indefinite suspensions by their station following the airing of the segment. In an updated statement on 790 AM's website, the station announced that everyone involved with the incident were fired.
"We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment," the statement read. "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."
Shortly afterward, Cellini tweeted he had been fired.
"An update: we all got wacked," he tweeted around 5:30 p.m. C.T. "I apologized to Michel Gleason, she understands it was a stupid joke. I'll do my best to help Team Gleason.
"No one made me apologize earlier, no one made me reach out. I was ignorant and it was the right thing to do. Got what I deserved.."
Celini later deleted his Twitter account.
Added Shapiro via Twitter: "I love the people and city of New Orleans, always have, always will, @team_gleason I will work tirelessly to make this up to you...
18 yrs ago @chrisdimino named the radio station, I helped start it, today it ends but so grateful, hate if I disappointed anyone...."
790 AM is the Atlanta Falcons' flagship station, and they have the rights to broadcast Falcons' games. Although the Falcons weren't involved with the incident, they later issued a statement about it.
"The Falcons are disappointed in the comments made about former Saints player Steve Gleason on a local Atlanta radio station Monday morning," the statement read. "The content concerning Mr. Gleason was completely inappropriate and is not representative of the views of the Falcons organization, nor does it represent the way we conduct our business on and off the field. To single out Steve the way he was this morning is totally lacking in taste and discretion."
Shortly afterward, Cellini tweeted he had been fired.
"An update: we all got wacked," he tweeted around 5:30 p.m. C.T. "I apologized to Michel Gleason, she understands it was a stupid joke. I'll do my best to help Team Gleason.
"No one made me apologize earlier, no one made me reach out. I was ignorant and it was the right thing to do. Got what I deserved.."
Celini later deleted his Twitter account.
Added Shapiro via Twitter: "I love the people and city of New Orleans, always have, always will, @team_gleason I will work tirelessly to make this up to you...
18 yrs ago @chrisdimino named the radio station, I helped start it, today it ends but so grateful, hate if I disappointed anyone...."
790 AM is the Atlanta Falcons' flagship station, and they have the rights to broadcast Falcons' games. Although the Falcons weren't involved with the incident, they later issued a statement about it.
"The Falcons are disappointed in the comments made about former Saints player Steve Gleason on a local Atlanta radio station Monday morning," the statement read. "The content concerning Mr. Gleason was completely inappropriate and is not representative of the views of the Falcons organization, nor does it represent the way we conduct our business on and off the field. To single out Steve the way he was this morning is totally lacking in taste and discretion."
The segment came on the heels of Gleason guest writing Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback Column, which went live Monday morning. Gleason, who is paralyzed, described his battle with the disease in a 4,500 word column written entirely by a computer that tracked his eye movement.
The shows hosts opened by talking about Gleason's column, and then pretended he was calling into the show.
A robotic voice "called in" with knock knock jokes. At one point, one of the hosts said they only do knock knock jokes on Thursdays.
"I may not be here on Thursday," the voice responded.
The voice also said "I blame Gregg Williams," and said "Smother me, do me a favor."
In the final "joke," the voice said "I'm going to Hell," before the segment ended.
News of the segment spread quickly through social media, igniting a firestorm on Twitter from enraged listeners and former teammate Scott Fujita, who tweeted: "I'm going to reserve judgement until I hear this morning's playback from @790TheZone. But right now I'm enraged."
"We deeply regret the comments made by Mayhem In The AM this morning on 790 The Zone regarding former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason," the statement read. "790 The Zone, Lincoln Financial Media, our sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support the unfortunate and offensive commentary concerning Mr. Gleason this morning. The members of the show involved with this incident have been suspended indefinitely pending further management review of their actions."
Initially after the segment aired, Cellini, tweeted "we took a shot, it backfired. Live and learn..."
Three hours later, he apologized via Twitter, but didn't reference Gleason or the incident outright.
"My apologies to everyone," Cellini tweeted. "It was a stupid attempt at humor that backfired. Emphasis on stupid."
The suspensions were announced a few hours after his apology, while the firings were announced late in the day.
Gleason didn't make an official statement on Monday, and Clare Durrett, the executive director of Team Gleason, his foundation, said it wasn't necessary.
"At this time, we don't feel the need to issue a statement as it just takes time away from the important things Steve and Team Gleason are doing," Durrett said Monday afternoon. "Currently, Steve is enjoying a much needed vacation in the Northwest and spending time with friends and family. He is having an extraordinary day so far, having been the guest writer for Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback and is now interviewing Pearl Jam.
"Following up the rest of the day, Steve will be with Michel and son Rivers enjoying the lakes and mountains that surround them, which is far more important than addressing a talk show that has no relevance to his efforts."
A transcript of the segment can be found here.
The suspensions were announced a few hours after his apology, while the firings were announced late in the day.
Gleason didn't make an official statement on Monday, and Clare Durrett, the executive director of Team Gleason, his foundation, said it wasn't necessary.
"At this time, we don't feel the need to issue a statement as it just takes time away from the important things Steve and Team Gleason are doing," Durrett said Monday afternoon. "Currently, Steve is enjoying a much needed vacation in the Northwest and spending time with friends and family. He is having an extraordinary day so far, having been the guest writer for Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback and is now interviewing Pearl Jam.
"Following up the rest of the day, Steve will be with Michel and son Rivers enjoying the lakes and mountains that surround them, which is far more important than addressing a talk show that has no relevance to his efforts."
A transcript of the segment can be found here.
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