Gibson apologizes for remarks about Heath Ledger
I’d been ignoring this story because it originated on the radio. Maybe that was a mistake on my part but that’s the way it went. But tonight John Gibson issued an apology on The Big Story for remarks he made on his radio program about Heath Ledger.
Even though I don’t care what Gibby said on his radio show. (Which was very repulsive considering someone died) This apology shows Gibby isn’t that horrendous after all.
Comment by Aaron — January 24, 2008 @ 9:08 pm
As well he should have. What the heck was he thinking????
Comment by Alison — January 24, 2008 @ 9:12 pm
While Gibson actions may have been in poor taste are they any worse then what KO’s buddy the founder of Daily Kos said about the death of those Contract workers in Iraq?..or the Huffington post (whose members are guest on MSNBC programs)making fun of Cheney’s heart problems and Tony Snow’s cancer?
And frankly the way the MSM has been waiting with baited breath for Britney to take a dive 6ft under can any of them really act like their above it when Gibson did what he did?
Too be honest I think we reached a point were no of this should shock us..Conservatives make unpleasant remarks about Liberals..Liberals make unpleasant remarks about Conservatives…thats just the way things are now.
Comment by mlong — January 24, 2008 @ 9:25 pm
“John Gibson issued an apology on The Big Story for remarks he made on his radio program about Heath Ledger.”
It’s good to see that he apologized.
Comment by STP — January 24, 2008 @ 9:34 pm
Cable hosts who don’t appear slightly unhinged often wind up like Paula Zahn. His “apology” got Gibson an extra day in the crosshairs.
Comment by steve — January 24, 2008 @ 9:53 pm
Your true nature is what you do and say on your own terms…he just apologized to keep his job.
Comment by Juvie3 — January 24, 2008 @ 10:07 pm
Mlong, Gibby and Nauret have been salivating over Brit.
Comment by Aaron — January 24, 2008 @ 10:22 pm
Half assed apology: “I am sorry if I offended anyone”. That’s not apologising for what he said. He should of said what he said was insensitive and cruel and inappropriate and I apologise for what I did. He didn’t apologise for what he did. just if he ‘offended anyone’.
Comment by Mike Beckham — January 24, 2008 @ 11:02 pm
While I think Gibson’s comments were tasteless considering a *person* died, Steve’s comment is true. People I know have never seen him on TV or listened to his radio show now know who gibson is and are talking about it.
Comment by chase — January 24, 2008 @ 11:04 pm
Again, if he’s going to apologize, it should be without qualifications.
Comment by KevPod — January 24, 2008 @ 11:21 pm
“While Gibson actions may have been in poor taste are they any worse then …” blah blah blah.
It’s okay to behave badly if other people behave worse? Can I cheat on my taxes because someone else defrauds the widows and orphans?
This reminds me of the apologists making excuses for Abu Ghraib - Hey, we’re not as bad as Saddam. Wow. We’re not as bad as a sociopathic murdering dictator. Go, us.
Comment by Arthur — January 24, 2008 @ 11:35 pm
“Too be honest I think we reached a point were no of this should shock us..Conservatives make unpleasant remarks about Liberals..Liberals make unpleasant remarks about Conservatives…thats just the way things are now.”
Where has Heath Ledger declared his politics?
I have yet to find anything where he campaigned for anyone, declared a preference for any political philosophy. In fact, the only thing I know about him is that he was a well-liked actor and hated people trying to take his pictures.
Could you direct me to something that has detail and facts about his political leanings?
“I’m sorry if I offended anyone” is known as a non-apology apology. “I’m sorry I laughed at someone’s tragic death and made a recorded comedy bit about it” is an apology. But then, Gibson has a history of stupid statements, making up “quotes” and racial insensitivity.
Comment by Cory!! Strode — January 25, 2008 @ 12:30 am
Hate to say, but Mediamatters had a great clip of this. Gib just went on, and on, and on. It was mean, drawn out, and unnecessary. Can we just make a rule about comments on recently dead people? Whether we like them or not?
Comment by laural — January 25, 2008 @ 12:44 am
This is great, I’m so glad he apologized. Now if we could just get the president to apologize.
Comment by Paco — January 25, 2008 @ 1:00 am
“I’m sorry some took my comments…” - “To anyone offended, I’m sorry” is NOT an apology. How ’bout “I’m sorry I said some horrible, insensitive, hurtful slanders, and I shouldn’t have done it?” Instead he’s saving face/increasing his ratings on TV, but shows his true colors on his radio show, where he defended his mockery by saying that there was “no point in passing up a good joke.” Really, Gibson? Someone dying is not reason enough to not joke about them? Ledger portrayed a gay cowboy, that makes him fair game for cruel ridicule? When confronted with claims he’d be a closet homosexual, Gibson said “well I’m still breathing. There’s the difference right there.” Classy, right?
Gibson is a sorry excuse for a human being, and no phony apology’s gonna change that.
Comment by tommod — January 25, 2008 @ 3:26 am
Where has Heath Ledger declared his politics?
Ledger was guilty of appearing in a movie in which he portrayed a gay man sympathetically. This is enough to condemn him to the lower circle of conservative hell, with liberals and others of their foul kind, and thus deserving of having his death made subject of what passes for ‘humor’.
Comment by Arthur — January 25, 2008 @ 3:35 am
Just another in a long line of “sorry” so I can keep my job.
I have in the past liked John Gibson but I don’t take his
appology seriously, he seemed angry he had to make it, but
I quit watching the Big Story when Heather came back so he
can say whatever he wants because I won’t be listening.
Comment by Liz — January 25, 2008 @ 7:12 am
Well, John Gibson and FNC/Fox Radio should be ashamed of this one. And for the ones in this thread trying to change the subject.. it just goes to show how low you’ll go in defense of the Corporation. SHAME! With that in mind, I haven’t liked or watched John Gibson for a while. But, at least he apologized.. although I’m not sure that “apology” was good enough. I guess he is just another Imus who does what his bosses tell him in order to keep his job. Lets hope Gibson is promptly yanked from the air.
Comment by Terance — January 25, 2008 @ 7:51 am
Terence: “But, at least he apologized.. although I’m not sure that “apology” was good enough. I guess he is just another Imus who does what his bosses tell him in order to keep his job. Lets hope Gibson is promptly yanked from the air.”
When I placed my comment yesterday about it being good he apologized, I hadn’t actually viewed the YouTube video as I was in a situation where I couldn’t listen to it without disturbing others and I didn’t have my earbuds at hand. Now that I have been able to listen and not just go by the headline, I can say that Gibson’s apology didn’t come off as sincere. Something more along the lines of “I was absolutely in the wrong for making offensive comments about a man who just died and I apologize to my listeners and Mr. Ledger’s family” was needed here. His tone of voice and the slight appearance of annoyance also didn’t lend much credence to his apology. It wouldn’t be surprising to find out that he was pressured by the powers that be make an apologetic-type statement to save face for himself, his show and FNC (as it reflected poorly on them too) or even to save his job. Not that I think Gibson’s sense of “humor” is very funny (I actually think his attempts are rather lame) but he needs to rethink his idea of what is appropriate humor and when to be using it. If he was yanked from the air, I wouldn’t miss him in the least.
First, it’s mocking “humor” and inappropriate comments from Gibson and, now, the Westboro Baptist Church plans to picket Ledger’s funeral. His family shouldn’t have to be deal with crap like this at a time like this.
Comment by STP — January 25, 2008 @ 10:07 am
Americans should be outraged by the things John Gibson said about this man because he stared in Brokeback Mountain. He should be fired from Fox News and they should immediately condemn his comments. This man does not deserve 4 hours of air time a day. But if the past is any indicator of the future, nothing will happen to him… because Fox has no decency. Can you imagine how this man’s family felt when they had to hear this trash? They already had to deal with the media, but now they have to deal with a news man… somebody whos show is supposed to be “hard-hitting,” “insightful,” and “break down the day’s top stories” (or at least thats what FoxNews.com has to say about “The Big Story”) say this hate speech about their loved one. Its outrageous, inexcusible, hurtful, hateful, trash TV.
Comment by Paco — January 25, 2008 @ 10:32 am
Amazing!! Hillary exposed today showing her in a white house pic with Rezko, the guy she called a slumlord while attacking Obama in last weeks debate. More amazing is all morning i have been flipping between CNN and MSNBC and not 1 mention of this. Of course the truth tellers at Fox News have shown it a dozen times or so. http://drudgereport.com/flash1.htm
Comment by foxmeansbusiness — January 25, 2008 @ 11:12 am
20: so it’s ok when a lefty mocks the illnesses or deaths of others? So you condemn the hurtful things Kos and Huffpo have said about people, or is that OK?
But I do have to commend you. You went one whole post without making a non sequitor about Iraq.
Comment by eddiebear — January 25, 2008 @ 11:13 am
Mike: I’d be curious about the Heath Ledger coverage in your neck of the woods. Around here, it was definitely overblown.
Comment by Ira — January 25, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
Maybe its just me, but I think Gibson was “gay bashing by proxy” which is probably worse than the act itself. Here you have a dead father who PLAYED a gay guy in a movie. Why didn’t Gibson use any clips from his other films? Oh right, I guess that might’ve been his only gay role, eh? Well now, isn’t that convenient!
Comment by Terance — January 25, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
I don’t quite understand your reasoning Spud that you “ignored this story because it originated on the radio”? How come this rule doesn’t apply to your links to O’Reilly and Gibson’s radio shows (via Johnny Dollar’s site) particularly during the back and forth with Olbermann?
Comment by Mr A — January 25, 2008 @ 3:06 pm
He seemed totally pissed at having to apologize. He was never a hero of mine, and I would have to agree with myself.
Comment by laural — January 25, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
I think Gibson was “gay bashing by proxy”
Of course he was. If Ledger had not appeared in Brokeback Mountain, Gibson wouldn’t have said a word against him. How DARE he portray gays sympathetically!
Comment by Arthur — January 26, 2008 @ 12:06 pm