Atlanta radio hosts fired for mocking Steve Gleason
The hosts of an Atlanta sports radio show were fired on Monday for mocking former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason, who has ALS.
The station’s VP and GM initially suspended the hosts indefinitely, but he later fired them.
“We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on “Mayhem In The AM” on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS. We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment. 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.”
Gleason, who played for the Saints from 2000-2006, is unable to speak or use his hands, so he uses a computer that allows him to type using his eyes and that provides a voice. Gleason typed a lengthy guest column for Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback, which prompted the hosts of “Mayhem in the AM” on 790 the Zone in Atlanta to do a mock interview where they pretended as if Gleason called into their show.
The hosts proceeded to replicate Gleason’s robotic voice. No surprise, they received immediate backlash for the offensive and insensitive bit.
One of the show’s hosts, Steak Shapiro, continued to tweet on Monday without appearing to address the incident. Another host, Nick Cellini, did apologize via Twitter.