KRXQ pulls live shows after remarks on transgender teens

[cboy4]

It's only temporary, but it looks like they got the message. I'm sure the sponsors backing out had much more to do with what's going on than feeling sorry about what they said.

Letter to readers posted below:

By Bill Lindelof
[email protected]
Published: Monday, Jun. 8, 2009 - 7:14 am
Last Modified: Monday, Jun. 8, 2009 - 8:52 am

Reacting to critics, the leader of the KRXQ's "Rob, Arnie & Dawn" show has posted a letter dated Sunday on the radio station's Web site saying the trio will stop broadcasting live shows until Thursday, when they will "say what needs to be said."

Bank of America, Verizon, Chipotle and other companies have pulled advertising from the Sacramento station (98.5 FM) after talk show hosts referred to transgender people as freaks with mental disorders.

During a May 28 show, one of the three hosts said he would hit his child with his shoe if the boy wanted to wear high heels. Another said he would tell a boy he was "a little idiot" if he asked to wear a dress.

<snip>

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation had called for States to apologize and demanded action from the station owners. Entercom Communications Corp., based in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., owns KRXQ and more than 100 other radio stations across the nation.

In the letter posted on the Web site, Williams addresses followers by saying, "We have failed you. As a show, as people, as broadcasters, we have simply failed on almost every level."

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1928458.html

LETTER:

Go To KRXQ.NET

TO OUR LOYAL ROB, ARNIE AND DAWN FOLLOWERS,

WE HAVE FAILED YOU. AS A SHOW, AS PEOPLE, AS BROADCASTERS, WE HAVE SIMPLY FAILED ON ALMOST EVERY LEVEL.

WE PRESENTED OUR OPINIONS ON A VERY SENSITIVE SUBJECT IN A HATEFUL, CHILDISH AND CRUDE FASHION; AND THEN, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETRACT THOSE REMARKS, WE DEFENDED THEM.

SINCE THEN, YOU, OUR LOYAL LISTENERS, HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO US THAT WE WENT TOO FAR. THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING. NONE OF YOU SAID THAT WE COULDN’T HAVE OPINIONS, YET SO MANY OF YOU SAID THAT THE WAY WE GAVE THEM CROSSED THE LINE. FURTHER, YOU SAID THAT OUR ATTEMPT TO MASK OUR COMMENTS AS “JOKES THAT WOULD BE UNDERSTOOD BY OUR AUDIENCE,” WAS UNACCEPTABLE. I WOULD SAY NOW THAT IT WAS WORSE THAN THAT, IT WAS COWARDLY. YOU HAVE MADE THAT CLEAR.

WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO VARIOUS GROUPS AND ASKED FOR A CHANCE TO MAKE THIS RIGHT; TO RESPOND, WITH THEIR PARTICIPATION, TO THE EDUCATION THAT OUR AUDIENCE HAS PROVIDED US. THAT OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN GRACIOUSLY GRANTED THIS THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 11TH. AT 7:30 A.M.

THE WORD APOLOGY APPEARS NO WHERE IN THIS LETTER FOR A REASON. WE ALREADY HID FROM DOING THE RIGHT THING ONCE AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN. APOLOGIZING IN A WRITTEN, POSTED STATEMENT IS A FORM OF COWARDICE. WE WILL SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID THIS THURSDAY.

ON A FINAL, PERSONAL NOTE, AS THE LEADER AND OWNER OF THE SHOW, I HAVE MADE THE DECISION THAT WE NEED TO REFRAIN FROM BROADCASTING NEW EPISODES UNTIL WE CAN ADDRESS THIS ON THURSDAY . WE WILL RETURN TO THE AIR AT 7:30 A.M. JUNE 11TH.

ROB WILLIAMS

ROB, ARNIE AND DAWN

[MineralMan]

1. Another dickhead who can't find the CapsLock key, I see.

What's his freepname?

[Ian David]

4. Radio press releases are traditionally written in all-caps to make it easier to read on-air. n/t

[MineralMan]

8. OK. Still a dickhead, nevertheless

[Ian David]

9. ASSIGNMENT EDITOR: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- THEY ARE STILL DICKHEADS. N/T

[MineralMan]

10. Not that there's anything wrong with dickheads.

I'm rather attached to one...but it never goes on the radio and speaks nonsense.

[liberalmuse]

2. They should be replaced.

Apparently they have a history of these sort of remarks. There are plenty of intelligent people who could do a much better radio show.

[Ian David]

5. I agree! For example...

http://www.stephaniemiller.com/about/

[47of74]

11. Hear hear!

[Ian David]

3. That's actually a real appology, and not the "Repology" that Republicans are known for.

I don't know if it's enough of an apology, since I am not the aggrieved party, so THAT is not my call to make-- but it is certainly a damn good apology.

[cboy4]

6. Right, on the surface it comes across as an apology.

But are they sincerely sorry, or are they worried about getting fired for costing the company a lot of money in advertising dollars?

I have a lot of questions. A lot.

[Ian David]

7. I have no idea if they're really sincere. THAT we shall have to see.

I'm limiting my critique to saying that their letter is what a real apology should look like.

As opposed to the typical Republican Repology, "I am sorry if my innocent remarks have been misconstrued and offended any of you over-sensitive pussies. White Power. Sincerely, Joe Republican."

[LeftHander]

12. K&R!!!

People are fed up with broadcast hate and ignorance.

[bluedawg12]

13. Well it's a start. Good job GLAAD! n/t