Is John Gibson’s Apology Enough?

Gibson_1.27.jpgThe LATimes’ Mary McNamara is calling on Fox News to pull John Gibson off the air because of his “hate-filled, and prepared, mockery of actor Heath Ledger‘s death.” McNamara was not specific about which platform (radio or TV) Gibson should be pulled from.

McNamara continues: “That Gibson would choose the event of a young man’s death — a young heterosexual man, it must be said — to exercise his ‘right’ to homophobia is not just a matter of taste, it’s an issue of policy.” Then asking: “What is Fox News’ policy about the language of hate?”

If this reminds you of another radio personality’s recent tour through the early stages of (at least temporary) career death — denial, anger, bargaining — there’s good reason. Don Imus lost his show as a result of a similar “joke” — a racist reference to the Rutgers women’s basketball team — and there is no good reason why Gibson’s fate should not be similar.

Earlier: Gibson Addresses Ledger Comments

MEDIABISTRO EVENTS

Get Social Media Marketing Secrets from Experts

Create a social media strategy, launch your campaign, and track the results in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. The online event and workshop will feature speakers including The Onion‘s Baratunde Thurston (left), Facebook’s Morin Oluwole, and bitly’s Tim Devane. Register now.