Opie and Anthony Air Sex Rant Against Rice, Laura Bush
By Rogers Cadenhead
Friday, May 11, 2007 at 01:46 PM
Radio shock jocks Opie and Anthony, in a controversy likely to test both the post-Don Imus radio landscape and the lack of government censorship of satellite radio, played along with a guest Wednesday who expressed his desire to physically abuse and have sex with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and First Lady Laura Bush.
During hours of their morning show that air exclusively on XM Radio and DirecTV, a homeless man and guest called Homeless Charlie brought up Rice and said that he'd love to "fuck that bitch dead" and "punch her all in the fucking face." (Audio and transcript).Host Anthony Cumia responded with amusement at the scenario, saying, "I just imagine the horror in Condoleeza Rice's face as you were just like holding her down and fucking her."
Charlie followed with a comment about Laura Bush: "I'll fuck that bitch to death. She needs a man."
On Friday's show, the hosts said they were sorry: "We apologize to the public officials for comments that we made on our XM show on May 9th. We take very seriously the responsibility that comes with our creative freedom and regret any offense that this segment has caused."
An XM Radio spokesman also said the network "deplored" the remarks.
Opie & Anthony, hosted by Cumia and Gregg "Opie" Hughes, airs on XM Radio, DirecTV and "terrestrial" radio stations around the country. The show's uncensored on satellite and cable and edited elsewhere to comply with the FCC.
The shock jocks joined XM in 2004 after being dropped by CBS-owned New York station WNEW two years earlier for encouraging two listeners to have sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Another CBS station, WFNY, hired them in 2006.
The New York Daily News tried to get a comment from State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, who "shook his head in disgust but declined to comment," and a White House spokesman who wouldn't "dignify that with a response."
XM Radio is attempting to merge with competitor Sirius, a move that requires federal approval and is subject to FCC review. "To say the companies have an uphill battle would be an understatement at this point and the opposition promises only to intensify over the next few months," a merger and acquisitions expert told the web site Seeking Alpha Monday.
Media speculation is rampant that these remarks will put more pressure on Capitol Hill to give the FCC jurisdiction to enforce decency standards on satellite radio.
A transcript of the remarks, also available as an MP3 audio file:
Charlie: I tell you what, what's that George Bush bitch? Rice? Condoleeza Rice.
Anthony: Condoleeza Rice.
Charlie: I'd love to fuck that bitch dead, man. She needs a fucking man. I'll fuck that bitch --
Anthony: I just imagine the horror in Condoleeza Rice's face ...
Opie: [laughter] ... when she realizes what's going on ...
Anthony: ... as you were just like holding her down and fucking her.
Charlie: Punch her all in the fucking face. Shut up, bitch.
Anthony: That's exactly what I meant.
Charlie: You know, fuck, and George Bush wife? I'll fuck that bitch to death. She needs a man.
Anthony: You diggin' her?
Charlie: I love that.
Anthony: Hey woman, hey woman. I show you a real man. Why don't you come by my box I'll show you a real man.
Opie: Hey, what about the queen? Current events: The queen just finally went back to her dumb castle or whatever. Oh boy, we lost his mike. We lost Charlie's mike. We lost Charlie's mike.
Anthony: Oh no.
Opie: I can paraphrase.
Anthony: ... and he was just saying something nice about the royal family.
Charlie: Fuck the queen. She lost -- you're lost, bitch. Why you coming over here for, you horse-faced lookin bitch?
Anthony: [whinny] You lost!
Charlie: Fuck that bitch.
Comments
He is not a regular guest. Get your facts straight before you spout off. That was his first time on the air. He was a part of the homeless shopping spree and had no air time before Wednesday.
Homeless Charlie was given a nickname by the hosts and first appeared on their show in October 2006, according to this audio. He's not a first-time guest.
Rogers Cadenhead you are a hack wanna be reporter. How about you learn to even spell Anthony's name correctly. How can anyone take you seriously when you say Curia. Who is that person? I have never heard them on the show and I have been listening for awhile. You can't even get that right how else anyone can believe a word you say you maggot. And I must say you have some crappy Editors that are as dumb as you.
he is a first time guest in studio, just becuase is was one of many people involved with a charity event does not make him a regular on the show. as usual, the new has been reported incorrectly
Not sure if they think they're funny or what. Never listened to them and probably never will. Who needs this kind of crap?
you never listened to them and never will but you have the information to call them crap?
hey, i like the way you think, i'll try to think this way more in the future.
i have never dated a minority and never will and because of that, i know all minorites are crap. see i am sounding brilliant right from the get-go, thanks for helping me be a better american... douchebag
I went to their softball game 5 years ago; that would make me a regular guest according to this reporter.
way to get the facts correct
Dear Mr Carenhead,
He was part of the Homeless shopping spree in December of 2006 but had no airtime. Wednesday was his first time on the air when he joined the hosts on the walkover from the CBS studios to the XM studios a few blocks away. Mr Gregg "Opie" Hughes invited the man, who is in fact homeless, up to watch the show and eventually join the hosts on air.
So, wait...
They're on unregulated, private and even parent-censorable XM Radio and some off-color commentary that happens to be about a public official causes someone concern?
Well, hello Mr. Big Brother! It's not even like Opie and Anthony made the statements, they just aired an uncontrollable guest on the no-control side of the show.
No harm, no foul. Was Condie even listening? Bah. She wouldn't even know about it if someone wasn't sitting around and listening, hoping to find a screw-up.
While O&A often do raunchy and cringe humor like this, the vast majority of their show, believe it or not, is very thought-provoking and, dare I say, intelligent. Anyone who has heard them speak on the Imus case, the VT shootings, or even during the days following 9/11 will testify to that. Sure they can be crude, but that's the style of their show (one no different than South Park, Dave Chappelle, etc)and they shouldn't be solely judged on isolated sound-bytes like this.
I changed Homeless Charlie's characterization from "regular guest" to "guest," since it was disputed by listeners here. My apologies for the error, but the point of the article was to report what this guest said so people can judge it for themselves. The media's dancing around it with euphemisms.
I am a 35 year old father, husband, and homeowner. I am a registered Republican and an active supporter of the Republican party. I work hard, have a PhD, and am an Eagle Scout. I take raising my 2-year old "right" very seriously. I also enjoy Opie and Anthony. They are my last link to a carefree time when the world wasn't so serious. The bottom line is they make people laugh.
To those who don't like Opie and Anthony or their "ilk"; if you don't like them, then don't listen. What started with Al Sharpton and Don Imus has turned into a witchhunt that has to stop. The bottom line is that free speech has to protected for all musicians, radio-personalities, and other entertainers regardless whether the ideas they espouse is ignorant, insensitive, or hurtful. Only through the free expression of ideas can issues that effect America be solved. Whether or not entertainers are punished for insensitive remarks should be judged by citizens by whether they change the dial, watch their programs, or buy their merchandise not by special interest groups or those with a political axe to grind. If citizens are truly offended by an entertainer, people will tune them out on their own. For God's sake stand up for free expression!
By the way, it'll cost you $12 a month to join the fun.
Sincerely,
Andrew Samuelson
I think as I please
And this gives me pleasure.
My conscience decrees,
This right I must treasure.
My thoughts will not cater
To duke or dictator,
No man can deny--
Die gedanken sind frei.
Mr. Cadenhead,
It shouldn't be up to the fans to correct your "news" article. You should do your own fact checking before you print lies. Your article comes up as one of Google's top news stories when you google "Opie Anthony," so you SHOULD have enough credibility, if not self-respect, to print what actually happened and who the people involved actually are.
I, like Mr. Samuelson, am and educated (although I only have a MS, not a PhD) and a very right wing American (to the right of Rush, to the left of God, as Michael Savage says) and I too, enjoy Opie & Anthony on XM Satellite Radio (yes, that was a plug... My stock is in the sh*tter). I can see the problem that people have with this type of entertainment but they can turn their radio off and flush it down the f***ing toilet if they don't like it. They do not have the right to take the show off the air because they were offended.
So... Mr. Cadenhead, please do a better job of getting your facts correct and don't ASS-U-ME you know the whole story from a 20 second audio clip. Opie and Anthony, although horrific at times, have helped out a lot of homeless people, raised money for hurricane victims and, most importantly, made me laugh for a long time.
Thank You
David Ryan
Free speech is a zero-sum proposition, youre either for it or agaisnt it. You cant say people should watch what they say then claim to be for free speech. The author of this article is apparently against free speech.
First they put away the dealers,
keep our kids safe and off the street.
Then they put away the prostitutes,
keep married men cloistered at home.
Then they shooed away the bums,
then they beat and bashed the queers,
turned away asylum-seekers,
fed us suspicions and fears.
We didn't raise our voice,
we didn't make a fuss.
It's funny there was no one left to notice
when they came for us.
Looks like witches are in season,
you better fly your flag and be aware
of anyone who might fit the description,
diversity is now our biggest fear.
Now with our conversations tapped
and our differences exposed,
how ya supposed to love your neighbor
with our minds and curtains closed?
We used to worry 'bout big brother,
now we got a big father and an even bigger mother.
And you still believe
this aristocracy gives a fuck about you.
They put the mock in democracy
and you swallowed every hook.
The sad truth is
you'd rather follow the school into the net
'cause swimming alone at sea
is not the kind of freedom that you actually want.
So go back to your crib and suck on a tit
go bask in the warmth of your diaper.
You're sitting in shit and piss
while sucking a giant pacifier,
a country of adult infants.
A legion of mental midgets,
a country of adult infants,
a country of adult infants.
all regaining their unconsciousness
DOES ANYONE IN THIS NATION REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE A BILL OF RIGHTS? Our First Amendment rights are being assaulted on a regular basis. It is my right and the right of everyone else to say what they want. If I want to bash anyone and everyone, I can, and there is NOTHING anyone can do about it. A number of our other rights are regularly trounced, as well, and it all goes together. Those rights exist in part so we can continue to protect those rights. It is cyclical.
I am extremely conservative. I vote Republican and have a great deal of respect for Condoleeza Rice and Laura Bush. I am a Christian, and I am a sheriff's deputy. One of the things I appreciate about Opie and Anthony is that they do say what is on their minds, and they do provoke thought on a lot of issues. I do not agree with every opinion or bit on the show, but I am adult enough to either ignore what bothers me or just acknowledge and move on.
The freelance censors we now have floating around this country need to be ignored. They, too, have every right to say what they want, but why should a minority who have not learned to just ignore what they find offensive have this much control over our entertainment? Why do they have this much power? The only people who would have been offended greatly by this remark (just like Imus') WERE NOT LISTENING. The "monitors" and "watchdogs" who are just looking for a way to get their fifteen minutes of fame are the ones who bring these things to everyone's attention.
I am an adult. I do not need Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Jesse Peterson, or anyone else to tell me what should offend me. Leave me alone, and leave my rights alone.
PS: Rogers Cadenhead did make a couple of small errors in the article, but I do appreciate that he is at least printing a transcript rather than the vague "Raping Condoleeza Rice" reference everyone else is.
If you don't like it, don't listen, simple as that. We pay for this service, so this is a bunch of BS. I thought it was a comedy show, F-n crybabies.
Opie and Anthony (and Jim Norton) have a show that is very entertaining. It IS worth paying the $12.99 monthly fee. They also have numerous guests whom they interview. Whether the interview is pre-staged or off the cuff, ie phone calls, walking from studio to studio or in the case a shopping spree, does not matter. They can not control what others say or think. And they don't try to. It is an improvised show with NO SCRIPT. The simple fact that they apologized actually goes against their beliefs. If you are a regular listener, you would know that they rarely if ever apologize. But they did. So to all the naysayers out there.....Tune in, sit back and enjoy, it only gets better. Way to go O&A!!!!!
What will happen when EVERYONE who offends ANYONE is censored. Then the books will be burned, and the religions we don't like are outlawed,and the ugly and fat rounded up and shipped away. What will you blame evil on then?
Jim Norton
May, 11,12,13 2007 - 8:00P
Caroline's (2 Shows)
New York , NY
Cost: $30
On Sale Now via www.ticketweb.com. Call (212) 956-0101 for more info. All Ages Showtimes: 8:00pm & 10:30pm
We can't forget lil'jimmy, he'll need the work if this goes down like the last time.
love ya jimmy
Mike Kelly subscriber to XM Satellite Radio since day one.
Just remember that we have a constitutional right to free speech if you don't like that then leave the U.S.A. Whether you agree with what was said or not the freedom to speak freely is ours and if we allow the small interst groups to dictate to us what speech we are allowed to say than we might as well never speak again because someone will be offended by it.
Can someone please explain to me what O&A said that was so bad ?? They were picturing Ms. Rice's expression if a homeless man was trying to have sex with her. ......come on, I know you all just tried to picture it, and yes, she would be horrified. If you are a listener of their's you can hear in Anthonys voise how he can also see the horror and feels sorry for her.
O&A are 2 of the nicest guys you could ever meet. They try to be as honest as they can, which is refreshing.
As for the transcribe, how about a bit more>> It's been taken out of context.
TOOZ
O&A fan since '98
Great comments everybody, this article is serving it purpose by creating some sort of dialog, but you should still hear the entire content of the interview before making your opinion. context is everything. what can we really do to protect our freedom of speech? this has been an issue in America for a long time. Susan B Anthony and Martin Luther King Jr. had to deal with it. Socialists, Thoreau, Larry Flynt, Madonna, and Jesus Chris(a little before Flynt) had to contend with censorship in it's many forms. As a conservative leftist white man in America, I fell repressed. For a white man in A-fucking-merica to feel repressed things have to be wrong. Or maybe it's just that I'm a college graduate and i have contracted hackysack poisoning. Image a completely free society, would it be the Utopian dream we are seeking or a nightmarish wasteland controlled by nihilist punks with chains and leathers?
PAnderson fan and supporter since "Throwing live chicken out the Studio Window" and "Sex to Save Lobster's Life"
The bit was about rape (a crime of power and violence) against women. The bit was about physical abuse on a government official (terrorism). The FBI should be working on this threat... it was NOT funny... one need not just "turn off the channel" to avoid the threat this brings our nation. If your wife was raped, you wouldn't think it so funny.
Sorry for how uneducated this is going to sound but what a load of shit.
Who cares if a guest makes a comment, I thought that "Homeless Charlie" was hilarious and (besides the clip in question) spoke a lot of truth. O & A (and Ron & Fez) are the only reason I even subscribe to XM and I would have no problem cancelling my subscriptions (I have 4) if they get taken off the air. I realize that E-Lo isn't going to have to sell his car to make a mortgage payment if I do that but I couldn't continue to pay for a service that would do such a thing.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit Horse Shit
The bit was a joke, not a threat for Christ sake, When will people understand that unpopular speach is EXACTLY the typr that needs protection. That is the basis of this nation. No one with half a brain actually would believe that O&A were actually condoning such an attack. The humor was dark, sorry if you can't handle that, maybe you should try Wakin up With Whoopi, or some other mindless drivel. I would prefer to have the honesty that is Opie and Anthony
I am a BIG O&A fan. This really pisses me off. O&A are the greatest. I think that the world has gone NUTS. Before you judge them try listening to them for a while. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones....
I cant believe some of you idiots actually take the time to read the news. The posts on here are pretty sad. What's worse is me actually taking the time to write this.
Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - Amendment I - Freedom of Speech - .......oh and to the person who put go read a book....go suck a cock:) now that is a perfect example of freedom of speech! God Bless America!
"Media speculation is rampant that these remarks will put more pressure on Capitol Hill to give the FCC jurisdiction to enforce decency standards on satellite radio."
See, here's the thing. Listeners of sattelite radio are like smokers.
Used to be a smoker so I know of which I speak. Smokers have been pushed out of doors to smoke just like shock jocks have been pushed onto sattelite. Why? So they can enjoy their smoke/free speech w/o being yelled at. Now what happens when someone who is still so offended by smoking that they go up to a smoker out of doors and tell them to butt it out? In case you've never tried such an experiment let me give you the skinny. The smoker will turn into a ball of justifiable rage and tear the complainer a new asshole verbally. They will scream and swear and bitch and moan and just generally tell the offensive POS to shut the FUCK UP! Less tactful smokers will merely kill the offender and bury them in a shallow grave. To each their own. And so listeners to sattelite FM will not allow the FCC to censor them without throwing a fit of epic proportions. If this constitution impinging move goes forward then America will have to change that line in her national anthem from "Land of the Free" to "Land of the P.C." and a sad day that will be, indeed.
As to this specific instance? O&A are retards largely. I've listened to them from time to time but find that they so rarely say anything substantial or even funny that they aren't worth the bandwidth. That said, I support their right to free speech but not unconditionally. Over at the Drudge Retort I try to keep from going beyond the pale. My definition of going beyond the pale does not indicate any respect I may have for Godwin's Law, BTW, Spud's Law trumps Godwin's quite handily I find. Going over the line involves one of two things either calling for the death of an elected official or a specific identifiable group. That's incitement to murder and hate crimes and that is definitely not acceptable.
O&A couldn't have picked a dumber move than to egg on the homeless guy who expressed his wishes to RAPE women to DEATH. Particularily when you consider who these women are. They went over the line and they were right to apologise. At least they got that part right.
I am not, just to be clear, advocating killing folk who tell outdoor smokers to butt out. I just find the idea funny that's all.
So sue me.
Be Well.
I listen to O & A, and since Imus, they have said that they would never apologize because apologies don't mean anything. If they had a backbone, they would have told XM to go screw and fire them. Don't get me wrong, I understand they like getting paid, but they talk out their asses too much and never back up what they say. I listened to the bit 3 times yesterday and I could not figure out what was so bad. They have done worse (naked Patti doing money snatch, graphic sex talk, etc.) and have had no backlash. XM is a pay service so you know what you are getting. Even if it were on free-fm, people have the option to not listed and turn the station. I think CBS had a lot to do with this, even though it was on XM. The boys talk about being on XM while broadcasting on CBS and I think CBS took a lot of heat for the bit. Why don't these witch-hunters go after HBO, Showtime, etc.??? They are a pay service and their shows have graphic sex, violence and language. Oh, right, people can choose to not buy the premium channels or turn the channel, same goes for radio. We are doomed as a nation. I am moving to Canada.
They haven't been funny in a looooooooooooooooooooooong time. All the kool-aid drinkers say they are the best, but they have no substance nor style.
Opie is a shitty board operator who brags that he has been doing radio since he was 18. Really?? If that is the case, why aren't you much better. All Opie does is butt in on conversations just to hear his own voice. He will repeat something he thinks is funny 8 times just to try to be part of a conversation. He sucks.
Anthony is talented for a tin-knocker. He is obviously the smartest of the 3, but is redundant for the most part.
Jim Norton is a hack. All we hear is sex talk and that he was an alcoholic and went to rehab at 18 years old?? Rehab at 18?? Okay, whatever. Drinking at 18 is normal. Getting fucked up at 18 is normal. Everyone has done it. Is it a requirement for all comedians to be recovering alcoholics and/or druggies?? It seems all their hack guests are as well.
The only time their show was good was the week during the Imus thing and the week after Imus got fired. They were actually, fucking great. They (mostly Anthony) had valid points and conversation and the callers sounded great and had intellectual things to say. After that, it went right back into the shitter.
Fuck no-talent-having Gregg Hughes.
Fuck hack-ass-loser Jim Norton
Fuck white-trash-nazi Anthony Cumia.
This has to be one of the best terestrial radio promotions ever.
How many of you will tune in on Monday morning to their regular radio show (Which airs before they go on XM) to listen?
It's actually refreshing to see an article that has a transcript. All the others just mention rape to sensationalize. Opie and Anthony have been saying since this whole Imus thing started that they will be targeted. The truth is they will be targeted because to nonlisteners they seem like they can't be defended. The truth is anyone who is American or lives by the virtues set forth by our constitution should stand by guys like Opie and Anthony, Imus, JV and Elvis, and I hate to say it Assclown Stern. Their humor might not be for everybody but it is liked by somebody. We should protect the right to be offended as well as those who offend.
I have listened to Opie and Anthony since about 1998 and have 3 xm subscriptions. If they are taken off the air, It's simple I cancel my subscriptions and start listening to music again.
And in reply to the post about their comments being a physical threat against a public official. You can't honestly be that dumb. So... every time the "news" tries to sensationalize a story and draw in viewers by over dramatizing something that they are pulling off the equivelant of yelling fire in a movie theater. They should be investigated by the FBI I guess. GO SCREW!!!!!
Fruuuunnnnnkkkuuussss
Mark the Brain
All I can say is that this is dark comedy and it IS protected by the first amendment, although some may find it humorless and disgusting,most of the listeners understand that this is all said in humor.
The troubling part to me is not only does this homeless person lash out at these women, Anthony Cumia seems to agree with his sentiments:
Quote:
Charlie: I'd love to fuck that bitch dead, man. She needs a fucking man. I'll fuck that bitch --
Anthony: I just imagine the horror in Condoleeza Rice's face ...
Opie: [laughter] ... when she realizes what's going on ...
Anthony: ... as you were just like holding her down and fucking her.
Charlie: Punch her all in the fucking face. Shut up, bitch.
Anthony: That's exactly what I meant. Unquote
Yes we do have free speech but there's even limits on that. You can't yell "Fire" in a crowded theater and I'm guess "I wanna rape you to death." is another fine example. These clowns have no business broadcasting in any media if they think advocating the rape and murder of public officials is funny. I can't believe the Secret service haven't swooped in on these 3.
The biggest offense here is that the bit, and everything else said on O&A, is grossly unfunny. There is absolutely no comedic value to that. I could careless if it's offensive or not. It's just not funny. Nice ratings, losers. 0.0 - Bwahahahahahaha
Howard fucking rules still.
1. People that are debating whether or not O&A are good, great, suck, funny, not funny, etc. STOP WASTING OUR TIME. This issue has nothing to do with opinions of their talent.
2. Only a couple days before this incident they joked that someday soon they'd piss someone off good, but you'd never hear them apologize. I was in complete shock when I heard them do exactly that on Friday. As a long time listener and an absolutest on Free Speech, I found this to be extremely disappointing.
3. (Most important point)
"CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS, OR OF THE RIGHT OF THE PE0PLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES."
Reread it. There is no gray area there.
The First Amendment is not for the purpose of protecting popular speech. That's easy. It's to protect unpopular, vile, awful speech. If we don't protect the most detestable expression in one person's view, how can we possibly expect anyone else's speech to be protected?
Reread it a few more times. The right to dissent, the right to express a view contrary to the mainstream, is the foundation of all Democracy.
Reread it again, and again, and again. Remember it. No one else seems to.
KM
I just can't belive people are so mad at O&A for laughing at an obviously crazy person. Do people really stop dead in their tracks to reprimand a comment from this type of person. Grow up and take things for what they are, funny. Open your news paper find the first horrific story you can find about a child being raped or killed and then tell me how important this really is. There are too many things to really care about in this world so quit your bitching. This country is turning into a bunch of children who can't take a joke. Please stop it, grow up and be a man. Theese people calling for firings are making me fucking sick, and when I look foward to what the future holds for our country and what we will tolerate I want to just pack up and leave.
I think we're missing the real issue here...... there's a man in the world that actually wants to put his penis in these women. I find that way more disturbing.
I wish someone would have censored the looger I spit on the Stern fan causing him to lunge at me and get taken down by Po. If they had, I would still be the executive producer of the Opie & Anthony Show.
Love and kisses,
Ben Sparks
They should censor the hit show turned pile of shit, the Sopranos. It hasn't had a decent episode since Silvio gave Adriana the your mom's box treatment. Can't wait for the Jim Norton hour long special though.
Christopher Moltisanti
May 12, 2007
I've never listened to O & A. I'm a Howard Stern fan. I voted twice for GWB and even once for his father. I screwed up. I saw Bill O'Reilly make up his own truth about what was said on the O & A Show in question... The next morning my very conservative friend basically repeated every word O'Reilly said the evening before and needless to say, I was sickened. Nothing Mr. O'Reilly said was based fact. The word "rape" was never used by anyone on the show in question. No one cares to find out the truth anymore. We live in a knee-jerk, witch-hunt society where no one checks facts and no one in our media seems honors their job. They simply love the business of spewing venom. I have no choice but to ask Mr. O'Reilly to step down from his position at Fox and "Drink his own cool-aid", as it were. Mr. O'Reilly is officially influencing people in a way similar to a Jim Jones or Adolf Hitler. I can no longer in good conscience allow our network to broadcast such spiteful, inflamatory and uninformed views.
Sincerely,
Peter Chernin
COO, Newscorp.
I can't believe that those guys still have jobs. They weren't sitting back, appalled at what the Charlie scumbag was saying. They were participating, commenting on it. Those idiots should lose their jobs.
Just reading what you people say and how you say it is such a turn off I would never listen to this show.
Andrew Samuelson, I agree with your views on freeedom of speech -- if you don't like it then don't listen, watch, etc. But really, why the first paragraph bio? Who gives a rat's butt. Only the second paragraph was necessary.
Do you think, Mr. Samuelson, that because you preface your comment with I am a repub blah blah, I am an eagle scout blah blah, I have a PhD blah, blah, blah, this makes your comment hold more weight than others here (rhetorical question}? Real self-esteem preludes having to justify that your opinion counts for something by baring your inflated ego to others.
It's simple ... free speech rules, they can say what they want... if people don't like it, and don't listen... O&A will be the ones living in a box.
How about not cutting out content when you post the "transcript"? For starters you're taking a chunk of the show out of context, then you further edit the piece to spin the conversation in a certain light.
You're NOT reporting the news, you are tyring to create the news. Was there any outrage over the even when it first aired? If you listen to the show in full and in context, you will view Homeless Charlie in the same light as you would a Richard Pryor.
The Opie and Anthony show is not a news or political talk show. It's a comedy / talk show. This portion falls into the comedy side. While you may not think it is funny, there are many others that do.
This country is heading into a 50's McCarthism type of atmosphere. And who are we chasing this time? Communists - nope. It's people who say things that kind of / maybe hurt people's feelings a tiny bit (but only when they're told to have their feelings hurt).
This country used to be something much greater. It is witch-hunts like these that will help to destroy what it once was.
The Opie and Anthony show is not a news or political talk show. It's a comedy / talk show. This portion falls into the comedy side.
What part of Homeless Charlie wanting to screw Condoleeza Rice to death and punch her in the face is funny? Even if he's kidding, which you don't have much reason to believe since he's just some homeless guy Opie and Anthony put on the air, a lot of people who talk like that aren't joking.
I know you're an Opie and Anthony fan and hear this segment in a different context than the rest of us, but I'd take you more seriously if you admitted that this wasn't their proudest moment.
This country used to be something much greater.
This country used to be a place without shock jocks racing each other to the gutter, too. Personally, I think if people want to hear crap like that Opie and Anthony segment it's their ears. But that segment was ugly, and they were right to apologize for putting the guy on the air and egging him on.
This is insane. This is nuts. This is crazy. Dude. I once heard them say that they saw me doing coke with Tom Brady off of some girl's back. Now that's insane and nuts and crazy.
I only listen to them on Terrestrial Radio (if I weren't at work during the hours they're on XM, you bet I'd have a subscription) but on thursday they aired part (not this part) of Homeless Charlies rant, and it was HILARIOUS. They did not seem to agree with him; but they agreed that it was funny. That he was saying RIDICULUS things and it was funny...I'm not sure how this becomes condoning what he said? In fact they made a point to say that it was absolutely absurd that a homeless man could say the horrific things that he said (something about robbing old b*tches, I do believe "horrific" was their word) when Imus got fired for offending some girls who weren't listening to his show anyway. I guess somebody was listening to them and said "yeah you know what, they should be fired too"
It's a witchhunt, really; and its shameful. There are really bigger problems in the world to worry about than trying to ruin other peoples fun. O&A are usually the highlight of my day. It can be SO hard to get out of the car in the morning and go into the office. If theyre fired, I guess I'll go back to listening to my ipod in the car (auxiliary jack), terrestrial and satellite can both suck it.
I am, by the way female. they dont offend me because I understand that they are comedians.
I wish I heard the show on XM, I bet it was great.
Okay, most non-sickos can agree that the image of a woman being held down and raped is horrifying and disturbing, rather than something to giggle about. But so what if that's the consensus? That's no reason to have someone or some speech banned; Since when is free speech subjected to repression based on a subjective preference or aversion by even a majority of people? Of course, private companies can do what they want, and if XM wants to fire them, that's their business judgment. But let's not talk about more regulation by the Government!
Lose the free speech bit. Free speech is about when the government shuts you down for what you say. Opie and Anthony are entertainment and their EMPLOYER shut them down because they felt that their offensive comments would hurt business. Its that damn simple. Opie and Anthony are not some free speech sacred cows. They are part of a satellite radio line up that people pay money for. Its business ladies and gents. Imus was the same deal. His show is entertainment for the purpose of selling advertising and when its value for that purpose was destroyed, the network dropped him like a hot rock.
Lastly, folks, I'm sorry but its time for a change when so many people think that disgusting talk about raping the Sec. of State and the First Lady is the kind of stuff you gotta rush to defend. Pathetic.
Well... what can one say that hasn't already been thrown-up here. O & A, and others like them, will not have a single platform for an adult radio show. It's a sad day.
I consider myself a HUGE O & A fan, with that said there have been worse things said on there show before this. When it happened I staired at the radio and couldn't believe they said that. But I lived through it and am (amazingly enough) still a HUGE O & A fan. My life was not altered and I didn't need a single person to voice my outrage. Problem is we dont put as much effort on comending for good deeds as we do condeming for what we see is bad. I dont think many of those who scream out to fire O & A realize the only thing that results is less choice. With fewer and fewer choices to listen to the ones you are left with are going to be so mush-like you'll be spoon fed radio. As for me I promise not to stop you listining to ...... (fill in your show of choice) but dont stop me from enjoying my O&A either.