Rob Arnie and Dawn in trouble

[_Simpson_ 250]

Thoughts?

Sacramento, CA morning drive show ”Rob, Arnie and Dawn” has ceased broadcasting until June 11th following advertiser and listener backlash due to a controversial segment bashing transgender and cross-dressing teens.

Chipotle, Snapple and Sonic are among nine advertisers withdrawing crucial business from the show in protest of the May 28th broadcast. During the show, co-host Arnie States said:

“If my son, God forbid, if my son put on a pair of high heels, I would probably hit him with one of my shoes. I would throw a shoe at him.”

Host Rob Williams concurred.

“A boy who wears a dress is a freak. He’s a nut.”

The pair went on to admonish transgender people and their supporters to “stop hiding behind research and laws.” It bears repeating that some studies indicate gay, lesbian and transgender teens are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.

In a headache-inducing, all-caps statement made on their website, the hosts had this to say for themselves:

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.

http://www.inquisitr.com/25488/rob-arnie-a...nsgender-teens/

[The_Dude 1,142]

I suppose the radio hosts are entitled to their opinions. However, so are the sponsors of the show and ultimately the media corporation that pays the radio hosts' salary. I find the statements in poor taste personally, but it's their opinion and protected speech. They are however employed at the will of their employer and subject to termination.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Yes true, when they say what they have to say they need to take there sponsors into consideration, there the ones paying the bills. I used to live in the area and they are big, I use to listen to them. They have said a lot of controversial things, surprised it took them this long to get in trouble.

I am curious to see what happens tomorrow.

[_Simpson_ 250]

UPDATED JUNE 11TH, 2009, 12:02 PM

A follow up statement from Rob Williams:

To the overwhelming majority of our audience, I want to say a heartfelt “thank you.” Thank you for having the courage to stand by us and to keep the show in check. It was through the loyal listeners of the Rob, Arnie and Dawn show that Arnie and I were dragged, kicking and screaming, to the reality that we had gone too far and crossed a line in the eyes of OUR audience. It is still a point of sadness and frustration that it took us so long to acknowledge our mistake, believe our audience, and begin making things right. The show of Thursday, June 11 serves to set things in forward motion.

To the minority, I question whether or not you really ever understood what it is that we do on the RAD show. To those of you insisting on continuing to cry “You Caved,” I ask you: Who did we cave to? When presented with the fact that your fellow listeners are the ones who said in no uncertain terms that we needed to step back and apologize, who exactly is it that you are suggesting we caved to?

If you feel the need to be angry at society for having its’ limitations on what they define as decent discourse, so be it. We live in a world where our free speech is granted, but the right to be heard is not. Our audience keeps us in check; not advocacy groups, not management figures and not advertisers, our listeners. Without our enormous audience, we are worthless to any advertiser, any radio station and any organization that would ask us to further their cause.

The RAD show is, has been, and will remain a show about society. We will continue to offer stark opinions and occasionally outrageous comedy, understanding that we will occasionally offend, but hopefully never hurt.

The heart of the RAD show has never truly been called into question; we are, each in our own individual way, decent, compassionate people striving to make a difference. Arnie just wants to make people laugh, Dawn just wants to make people bored, and I just want to make people think.

As the owner and leader of the show, I hope you will remain a member of our powerful family.

Rob Williams

Rob, Arnie and Dawn