CNN Suspends Roland Martin for "Offensive", Homophobic Tweets

CNN has suspended contributor Roland S. Martin for a homophobic series of tweets during the Super Bowl.

The Chicago-based radio host has been under fire since Sunday and the target of an social media action by GLAAD and the National Black Justice Coalition. CNN has been quiet until now when it released this statement:

Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being.”

CNN took its time, but it clearly reached a strong decision here. What Martin had tweeted — advocating beatings for men who’d enjoyed the David Beckham underwear ad shown during the Super Bowl plus the same for a New England Patriot clad in a pink suit — was the equivalent of cheerleading for violence against gays.

"CNN today took a strong stand against anti-LGBT violence and language that demeans any community," said GLAAD spokesperson Rich Ferraro. "Yesterday, Martin also spoke out against anti-LGBT violence. We look forward to hearing from CNN and Roland Martin to discuss how we can work together as allies and achieve our common goal of reducing such violence as well as the language that contributes to it."

Roland Martin's homophobic comments should come as no surprise to R20 readers. Martin has previously compared gays to alcoholics, defended Tracy Morgan's violent homophobic comedy skit and slammed "gay blogs" for "savagely attacking" anti-gay Miss California Carrie Prejean.

More recently: Actor Boris Kodjoe criticized Roland Martin for describing homosexuality as a choice or "gay lifestyle."

Martin has a major platform across Black media—radio, television and magazines—and his words are particularly harmful to Black LGBTs. Despite his well-documented homophobic track record, a number of Black gay voices have defended Martin and attacked GLAAD and other activists. Rev. Kevin E. Taylor, the New Jersey-based pastor, gay activist, author and producer dissects this in an excellent op-ed at RollingOut.com:

Martin is the “crazy uncle” who we are used to coming into the room and saying stupid things. ... We are used to the Rolands of our world ranting about stuff in off-handed ways. [So] many Black gay men have learned to absorb the shock of these comments and keep it moving “cuz that’s just how he is."

We are often still so ensconced in our Black community ... because we still find more sanctuary in Blackness than in gayness. We would rather take off-the-chin remarks from the family "we know loves us" because we have at least had great memories of family gatherings that just happened to include the crazy uncles and the Bible-toting aunts who say they love us but not "that lifestyle." I am pissed off and disappointed at members of my own community because while I completely understand the need to be close to the family and stay close to home, we’ve got to be willing to grow up.

It's an excellent op-ed. Read it HERE.

Martin's "jokes" about homophobic violence were delivered at the same time a young Black gay man was viciously attacked by a gang in Atlanta. The video-taped gay-bashing has gone viral. The FBI has has joined the police investigation.

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Comments

[Chitown Kev]

What the RevKev said...

and of course, I am reading these same black gay voices talk about racism in the gay community w/GLAAD...which IS a legit issue but...

I also remember one of the best, most thoughtful comments here at Rod more or less stated that blacks do have a tendency to talk better about some topics and issues than other.

On some of those others, there's the fear of airing the race's dirty laundry...among other things.

Which circles back to RevKev's comment...it's easier to look at racism and the ways in which it harms and demeans. Much harder to look at and air grievences against the crazy uncle...but sometimes that's what you have to do...and yes, sometimes you pay a price for it.

[Chitown Kev]

...and I won't even pile on about the ascot.

I will say that I've never worn one, lol

[Chitown Kev]

and here comes Roland's wife with her BS

[Tony]

Geeez....the hairline, multiple chins an the ascot? Whew, dude has a lot goin on.

[Aamir Swag]

Hearing Dave Chappell's voice...
"GOTCHA B*TCH!!!"

[Chris w.]

My gaydar is terrible as usual. I assumed he was gay and out. His clothing choices are always so flamboyant.

[Mel Smith]

CNN took the correct action.

[Honut Sinti]

It seems like these hateful outbursts from "public pukes" are planned along with the peddle-back pronouncements of apologies.

It's all coarse and nasty game playing.

[Shannon 1981]

I just cannot, for any reason, understand people saying these things over twitter.I myself have a twitter account. Is it off the cuff, spur of the moment? Of course it is. But that does not give license to public personalities to use this avenue of communications to tweet hate against an already marginalized group of people. I am both Black and LGBT, but I gotta stand with the LGBT part on issues such as these. Furthermore, as a victim of that horrid ex gay nonsense, I certainly do know firsthand that Roland Martin, his wife, and everyone involved with them are more than likely more than a little homophobic. Good job, CNN. Good riddance, Roland Martin.

[Kevin Johnson]

Tony, that was funny. He does have a lot going on.

[Black Pegasus]

I'm disappointed in Roland for his ignorant and bigoted views concerning Men's masculinity. If anyone should be slapped, it's Mr. Martin.

[TheRevKev]

Water seeks its own level.

Roland S. Martin can only blame his own words and actions for this suspension. When he tried to suggest that the comment about David Beckham and underwear was about soccer and not sexuality, I had to laugh. Rod's great investigative reporting showed that he had tweeted earlier, about a Patriots' sidelined player in a pink suit, that he should get a visit from #TeamWhipDatA**, I knew he had to go at some level. But my beef is so about his and his stupidity. I don't know WHY so many brothers went after GLAAD...and then asked WHERE IS GLAAD when the videotape of the beating was released!

WE CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!

[Troy]

I'll take the ascot with the plunging neckline for a thousand, Alex...
CNN Producer to another producer at the watercooler: His swagger isn't there like a T.J. or Don Lemmon come hither look; He gotta go!

[elg]

Roland Martin is not just a "crazy uncle". He has a "well-documented homophobic track record" as well as a "major platform across Black media".

Because of the VAST reach of Martin's influence, he is actually DANGEROUS to the black LGBT community.

In Martin's case, the "crazy uncle" should be fired from CNN.

Unfortunately, the "give a brotha' a break people" (which unfortunately includes gay black men who should know better) will probably save Martin's job with CNN (I hope I'm wrong about this).

BTW, more black gay men should develop a backbone and either DEMAND CHANGE or "fire" their crazy uncles, aunts, mamas, daddies, cousins and any other relatives who say anti-gay things that are better left unsaid.

[Chitown Kev]

@elg

Co-sign.

I mean, if it was Martin's first or even second offense, then I could be behind giving the brotha a break.

But with his history...no...and now Mr. Thing's wife has really poured the fuel on the fire in a very dangerous way with her (now deleted but archived) tweets.

As far as the crazy uncle syndrome is concerned...well, as it applies to crazy uncles and cousins and things of that nature...

When it comes to family members, I can understand why some choose to put up with anti-gay comments from those that they love and grew up with and were raised with and by.

I choose not to do that within my own and I have paid a price for that in that there are some family members that I simply don't talk to. And some family members think that I am being unreasonable that I need to put the family first at all times.

The best I can do with that is to draw boundaries on a case by case basis.

[Derrick from Philly]

Everytime I see Roland Martin I have to just stare at him. He brings back memories of my elementary school days when we were assigned to draw pictures of our state bird. Yes, he's the spitting image of the Pennsylvania Ruffled Grouse...and just as colorful.

[DFS]

@Chi-town Kev. Cosign completely

[Kevin Perez]

Chinatown Kev:

That's a interesting testimony/experience but as a counter argument, you could very well argue they should put family above religious superstition and "traditions". It's always amusing to hear people lecture and brag about "family being all that matters" or it being the most important thing in the world....That is unless some in the family is LGBT. Criminals, gang bangers, thugs, murderers, and even rapists would get more leniency and forgiveness before LGBTs would. It's disgusting, really.

But yeah, I can't say I'm happy that he's fired....But I'm not sorry either. I'm still puzzled by why some Black LGBTs passionately defend celebrities/spokespersons that say these awful, bigoted things about them. I'm in the closet. I don't believe you should be out if you feel your safety and the roof you live under maybe compromised. I'm not out in the open. I'm still fearful, afraid and etc..... But my self-esteem and dignity as a human being isn't so low that I would justify the, venom, bigotry, malice, animosity, ill-feelings toward me.

Is it that painful and hard? What gives?

[Chitown Kev]

@Kevin Perez

Well, some people in my family do put the fact that I'm family above all else and their attitudes changed accordingly (my brother is the best example of that).

Some members in the family don't and instead choose to shift that burden onto me, saying that I'm the intolerant one (and, yes, those would be the more religiously inclined ones).

I try not to judge black/Latino LGBT's and the decisions that they make in that regard one way or another because I understand the importance of the bond to family and community in a racist society (which includes urban LGBT communities)