Your thoughts – Roland Martin endorsing gay beatings or victim of PC police?

by Slausito Jesus Ashylandro Gordo Grande Ramirez on February 6, 2012

in Am I Wrong?

As you might have heard,  Cnn Analayst; Roland Martin is in trouble for what GLAAD is referring to as an anti-gay and pro gay beatings tweet which he ‘tweeted’ during the super bowl.

Here is the gist…

CNN’s Roland Martin is under fire from gay rights groups after tweeting that people should “smack the ish out” of male fans of a steamy Super Bowl commercial starring David Beckham.

Martin, who has been a longtime analyst for CNN, was actively tweeting throughout the Super Bowl. After an H&M commercial featuring Beckham clad only in his underwear aired, Martin tweeted messages making fun of men who may have liked the ad. He wrote that “real bruhs” would not purchase underwear advertised by Beckham, and that people should “smack the ish out” of a male supporter of the ad.

Many of Martin’s followers responded to his, harshly criticizing him for the comments. Martin staunchly defended his messages and claimed that he was simply mocking soccer, something he said he routinely does.

Unfortunately for Martin, gay rights group GLAAD picked up the baton. The group tweeted a response to Martin, saying that “advocates of gay bashing have no place at @CNN.” The activist group went even further and has now called for CNN to fire Martin.

GLAAD’s letter states that “Martin’s tweets today advocating violence against gay people weren’t an accident — they are a part of a larger pattern for Martin. Anti-gay violence in America is a serious problem facing millions of Americans. It’s no joke. CNN should fire Roland Martin.”

GLAAD also took issue with a tweet Martin sent earlier in the day, in which he made fun of a New England Patriot player who arrived wearing a pink jumpsuit. “He needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass,” he wrote.

Martin formally responded to the backlash.

Fam, let me address the issue that some in the LGBT community have raised regarding some of my Super Bowl tweets yesterday. I made several cracks about soccer as I do all the time. I was not referring to sexuality directly or indirectly regarding the David Beckham ad, and I’m sorry folks took it otherwise. It was meant to be a deliberately over the top and sarcastic crack about soccer; I do not advocate violence of any kind against anyone gay, or not. As anyone who follows me on Twitter knows, anytime soccer comes up during football season it’s another chance for me to take a playful shot at soccer, nothing more.GLAAD responded to Martin’s statement. The organization dismissed Martin’s claim that his tweets were intended to make fun of soccer and maintained its call for CNN to fire the political analyst. GLAAD also mentioned how Martin did not address what the organization described as his “history of anti-LGBT rhetoric. ” Referring to Martin’s tweets, GLAAD’s statement read, “Based on this history, this doesn’t seem like a playful jab at what Martin considers an inferior sport. It seems like a jab at what Martin considers an inferior community of people.”  [source]

Personally i think this is yet another example of everyone being too gatdamn sensitive ass sensitive- BUT- that doesn’t mean I don’t see how GLAAD could be offended  on the matter.

In reality, his tweet did not come off as a diss to Football which only knuckle-dragging Americans still refer to as Soccer in the ultimate form of both ignorance and arrogance, but it came off as more of ” If any dude at the party liked seeing David Beckham all nekkid azz nekkid at your party, punch him in the face for being a fruit-booty fag.

It’s not at ALL what Mr Martin said, It’s not at all what I think he was saying. But in my opinion, you’d just have to be stupid to not see how it could be taken that way.

My opinion.

Do I think he should be fired for it? Hell no.  Not unless his past actions show he has ever consistently endorsed physical violence against the LGBT community in the past.

In my opinion, it’s nothing more than a stupid joke with reaaalllly bad timing, GLAAD being way too sensitive and others being quite ignorant to how both sides can feel the way they do….

 

But what’s YOUR opinion..

1 fineazell1 February 6, 2012 at 1:57 pm

I read this as "If a dude (you THINK is straight)" at your super bowl party is hyped about blah blah blah….

I don't think it was a gay bash at all…

2 Lo - Kei February 6, 2012 at 2:43 pm

Word Zell… I took it the same way.

3 Ardamus79 February 6, 2012 at 2:09 pm

I'll never understand why people in the US see soccer as something soft. I swear, put them same dudes around soccer hooligans in the UK, Mexico, and etc., they will shut up before they get laid out. Football has one of the most questionable things in sports that happens: one guy stands behind another guy and grabs the ball. And soccer gets called gay. LOL. I'll never understand my country sometimes.

Martin screwed up though. His dumb-azz forgot he is two things: (1) a public figure with an important job and (2) brotha which adds to the pressure. Generally, we as black folks were raised that your cousin Danny is just "special" because he likes to carry a purse instead of a backpack to school. And we don't have to like it….we can voice our opinion on it……but we leave it alone. Nowadays, the issue of saying anything about gays is so crazy that people who are in the spotlight have to mind their tongues in so many settings. He was wrong for what he said but he should've known better to leave a trail of BS he's been saying before and notice that he would get that kind of criticism. And of all places: Twitter. Really dude? And you're an analyst? I hope you analyzed that you probably should've kept that to yourself because you're not sure if you can keep your job or not.

4 DatDamnDarkie February 6, 2012 at 2:15 pm

Footbol fans are the most gangster fans of any damn sport int he world… American football fans, we need to hush in thinking 'soccer' is soft.

5 LeftCoastLady February 6, 2012 at 2:21 pm

Co-sign. If he wants to hold that opinion, he's free to do so, but as most folks seem to forget when it comes to "free speech," just as you're free to speak your mind, I'm free to call you a jackass.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/DoN9v.gif"&gt;

6 Marina Lasanya February 6, 2012 at 3:45 pm

i want this gif!!

7 Marina Lasanya February 6, 2012 at 3:44 pm

as one who was "manager" of a fitba team in high school, not nair a thing soft about it. with the warm ups that's done, where is the energy to just PRACTISE, let alone play a game?

besides, we listen to/read dumb shyt all the time. clearly some people have forgotten already where they live. consider this a lesson to think before you speak and keep it moving.

8 flowerpeddlesmehtare13 February 6, 2012 at 8:20 pm

I suspect the "Soft" image comes from all the fake "injuries".

"OW! My eyelash! I must flail about and be all dramatic and shit!"

9 Ardamus79 February 6, 2012 at 11:51 pm

Man please. I'm talking about goalies getting shot over missing a goal in high profile games kinda stuff. Them folks in other countries take soccer that serious. Its not just about those fouls. Some of them are over dramatic but, some of that stuff hurts if you're not careful. And the only protection you really have are those damn shin guards.

10 F. Honey Badger February 6, 2012 at 2:16 pm

MAn listen Fuck all that. Just like you have the right to be gay he has the right not to like you. Twitter is a place for people to (most playful) express their personal opinion. If you don't like him don't follow him. I don't like Slaus I am going to follow him and bash his every tweet?! NO, I am going to not follow that dark crispetty crackily crunchety coon. I understand the LGBT community has been a picked on group of people and they have the right to be up in arms if someone genuinely takes a shot at them. However, this is not one of those opportunists. Sit the fuck down, watch the game and try to get a BJ after just like the rest of us do. I guess i as a black man should be offended by the M&M ad since it featured a brown M&M getting naked? Get over yourself ya'll. No one hit you, you are not under attack sheath your triangle shaped swords and put down your Rainbow shields.

11 DatDamnDarkie February 6, 2012 at 2:21 pm

.w-w-why i gotta be both crispety and crackety though…. :: sniff sniff :::

12 Lo - Kei February 6, 2012 at 2:45 pm

o.o

::bites lips to keep from busting out… not…….wor……….king………..::

BWWAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

13 LeftCoastLady February 6, 2012 at 2:23 pm

Except Roland Martin isn't just a regular person. He's a part of the media and he should know more than anyone that his words and actions are being watched and judged.

14 flowerpeddlesmehtare13 February 6, 2012 at 8:22 pm

I could understand your point if this was a one-time deal, but he supposedly has a history of bashing gay and transgendered people, according to GLAAD.

15 F. Honey Badger February 7, 2012 at 5:03 am

He is in fact a regular person. Last I checked he has not been named to Sainthood or anything. He made his statement on a social media page. Not CNN's page his personal page which implies his views are his and his alone. His Twitter name is not @rolandmartincnn

16 WanderBoi February 6, 2012 at 2:25 pm

As a card carrying member of the hoe-mer-sexual commuity, I don't think he should be fired. I think he should get the heck off of Twitter. How could he not know that he was gonna get hella backlash for such a stupid and immature "expression of opinion". If he's all that mad about the ad, me thinks he doth protest too much. And if he knew anything about advertising, he would know that MEN were not the market. That H&M ad was for the ladies! Women watch the outlandish sportsfest that is the Superbowl and guess what, advertisers know it. Too bad this receding ass hairline buggy eyed idgit did not.

17 CaraQ301 February 6, 2012 at 2:33 pm

Exactly. I don't think he should be fired. Reprimanded, sure, but not fired. And he should get off Twitter or realize his tone needs to be checked.

18 cakes_and_pies February 6, 2012 at 2:25 pm

This is how Roland tweets. I've gotten use to it, so I don't see these tweets or him as being homophobic. Maybe it's because he's always threatening to smack a man up for not doing a manly 'thing'.

However, on the opposite end of the perspective, when a nationally recognized figure says something that
can easily be seen as racist or prejudice and makes my niggometer needle hop, I take notice and dig a little further before I go calling someone any kind of -phobe and demanding a public apology.

19 DatDamnDarkie February 6, 2012 at 2:34 pm

"Maybe it's because he's always threatening to smack a man up for not doing a manly 'thing'. "

—but doesn't that n*gga wear ascots??

20 cakes_and_pies February 6, 2012 at 3:06 pm

and sports a glistening Dudley Kit 'do…..

21 LeftCoastLady February 6, 2012 at 3:22 pm
22 psufanfall99 February 7, 2012 at 7:15 am

I bust out laughing when I saw this….lmao! I had to check outside my door to make sure I didn't startle anyone.

23 queensgirl1960 February 7, 2012 at 7:20 am

sooo wrong but it fits..ascot wearin azz..

24 Unca_Ruckus February 6, 2012 at 3:08 pm

GLAAD is about as relevant as the NAACP. As soon as Roland write them a check, apology forgiven. Reading some of the comments here, people would protest me, if I were famous enough. *hangs head in defeatist shame*

25 F. Honey Badger February 7, 2012 at 5:07 am

<—–ALSO!

26 Leo_YardieChick February 6, 2012 at 3:23 pm

Since I just had the energy sucked out of me during my lecturer-student consultation, I can't even conjure up an IDGAF. Not even that.

Seriously, y'all, I am TIRED! Not even working on the pieces themselves had me this wiped!

27 Kat_Coll February 6, 2012 at 5:37 pm

I'm sure he's learned a lesson everyone needs to learn: Think twice before you tweet/speak/post once.

Do I think he's advocating violence? Nah. I think he just spoke without thinking and ended up putting his foot in his mouth.

28 cecenichole February 6, 2012 at 6:01 pm

I'm sooooooo sick of groups like GLAAD and PETA just taking ish and run with it. Ya know what? Some of my best friends are gay. My bf is so alpha male that being around them would make him uncomfortable. BUT….THAT IS HIS FREAKING RIGHT! Not everyone is going to like you. Deal with it GLAAD. Not everyone is okay with gay people for whatever reason and constantly acting like a child and making demands on everyone who doesn't is a violation of THEIR rights to not like you. Unless this man is actually going out and smacking homosexuals…let it go. Fudge

29 blu4577 February 6, 2012 at 11:12 pm

"Some of my bestfriends are black!" lol No? Thats just how that came off to me.

I too do not see this as him bashing gays but according to your statement if a popular white person came out and said "Kill all the nig8ers!" black folks should let it go? Or if a popular man came out and said "Smack the shyt out of your wives!" women should just let it go? Yeah thats not going to happen.

I dont think this was GLAAD's fight but if someone genuinely came out and said "Smack ever homo you see" then they would have a reason to be pissy

30 mysstea February 7, 2012 at 4:50 am

"Some of my bestfriends are black"

Oooh girl you aren't the only one that had that thought o_O

31 That Dude Bennegtt February 6, 2012 at 7:10 pm

Roland always spouts of at the mouth on Twitter — and he loves to argue w/people (apparently Toure is one of his favorite targets). Twitter's stream of consciousness approach tends to get many a celebrity or public figure in trouble — heck even a college athlete or just John Doe. It's all act first, think later.

I think he was tryna to be funny — in his normal way; but came off as an a**hole — also his normal way. I don't think of him as having that much influence to matter…until GLAAD put a spotlight on him *shrug*

32 Tester70 February 7, 2012 at 12:05 pm

I saw it when he tweeted it…I don't know why everybody is so mad. Do they get mad when he tweets his holiday rules and professes to smack bad ass kids in his home? NOPE! So get the phuck over it.

33 DillaPickles February 7, 2012 at 2:37 am

"In reality, his tweet did not come off as a diss to Football which only knuckle-dragging Americans still refer to as Soccer in the ultimate form of both ignorance and arrogance".

Incorrect. 'Soccer' can be viewed as a tribute to the quirkiness of the British.

It's also recognized as soccer (Association Football) by Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland; and interchanged among others. And the British invented and commonly used it officially in throughout the 1900s, (you'd probably find many elderly British that would have no problem with it being called soccer) so it's ridiculous to finger point about whose right and wrong about it when they're both correct terms.

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/news/i…

I call it soccer, the kids who play it in little leagues and recreationally call it soccer, the Americans who play it collegiently and professionally call it soccer, the US isn't the only country to call it soccer. Not out of disrespect, but simply because it's what we recognized it as growing up. If there is any ignorance or arrogance, it's the people who insults people who uses soccer without knowing the history of the word. And I wouldn't call these thugs that riot over soccer gangsta, they're embarrassments to soccer fans in general and the countries these douches are supposed to represent. They are the true neanderthals, turning what should be a fun experience into a disaster that unnecessarily takes the lives of innocent people.

34 F. Honey Badger February 7, 2012 at 5:05 am

It was in fact his personal account. SO you lose your rights due to your occupation? Thats the "freedom" everyone was fighting for all these years? A freedom where success dooms you to censorship?

35 CaraQ301 February 7, 2012 at 9:54 am

Did you read what I said, or is this just a knee-jerk reaction? Because I DO believe I said that if he did this on his PERSONAL account, that it would be a different story. (Quote: "If he is tweeting on his PERSONAL Twitter acct, fine;")

My final statement says that you can have your freedom to say and do whatever you please, but there's ALWAYS a price. It's no different for a high-profile person than it is for a regular person. Eventually, you will have consequences for your actions. I also said, in response to WanderBoi's post, that I do NOT think that he should be fired.

36 Lurkasaurus_Rex February 7, 2012 at 11:47 am

To me, anybody gettin' hyped about a gat dam ad of any fuggin' sort during the Super Bowl? The Super Bowl? Sheeeee-it, n!gga needs to get the shyt smacked outta him on general principles.

Yeah, summa them ads is funny (the Motley Crue one was funny, but for all the wrong reasons #VinceNeil), and I'm pretty sure Clint Eastwood is finna kick the livin' shyt out anyone NOT drivin' a gat dam Chrysler by Valentine's Day, but lookit: I'm tryna watch the game, period.

That, and see how many beers it'll take for me to choke down these fitteen cheezeburgers…

37 Tester70 February 9, 2012 at 10:32 am

Roland has been given the boot

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