Hank Williams Jr. Fired Over Political Statement

There are celebrities who are well known for their radical political statements and campaigns. Whether it is actors or singers, republicans or democrats, it doesn’t matter. Each is willing to speak out their opinions to the public, but those same people have to be willing to face potential consequences from those public opinions.

Once you’ve spoken out, it’s hard to take it back. Usually it’s just public disfavor or some protests. Maybe a few pitch forks here and there.

But not for Hank Williams, Jr., who was fired after his incident with “Fox and Friends” last Monday.  According to the L.A. Times, “The incident in question happened Monday on “Fox & Friends” when Williams said of Obama’s golf outing with House Speaker John Boehner: “It’d be like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu,” referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.” After making that statement the singer indicated Obama and Joe Biden as “the enemy.”

After the interview that Monday morning, ESPN decided to pull the plug on William’s “Let’s Get Rowdy” song for Monday night football and are unsure about future Monday Night songs. The song has been used for football since 1989. They were upset with the comments he made and the affiliation Williams has with ESPN.

However, the two sides contrast over the way Williams has been separated from ESPN. ESPN stated, “We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams Jr. We appreciate his contributions over the past years. The success of Monday Night Football has always been about the games and that will continue.” Hank Williams, however, holds a different opinion.

According to Business Week, “After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision,” Williams said in a statement to The Associated Press. “By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It’s been a great run.”

On Tuesday, Williams apologized for the statements he made. He said that they were misunderstood. Since Monday’s event, Williams has gained many supporters on his side. Some, surprisingly, are from the other side of the political track. Business Week stated, “Among his defenders were Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar of “The View,” who have a very different political viewpoint from the conservative Williams, but often are called out for their own comments.”

Despite who made that call, the fact still remains that that their long relationship of “Monday Night Football” is over after appearing for years on ESPN and ABC. So who should his replacement be?

Barry Sanders that’s who. Sanders is the Lions running back who will be speaking the intro during the opening of “Monday Night Football.”  According to AOL Sporting News, “ESPN spokesperson Josh Krulewitz told the Free Press that player narration was likely the format to be used for the rest of the year, but decisions beyond that had not been made.”

So far the song’s replacement has not been found. ESPN still has to figure that one out.

Photos courtesy of Andrea Klein, Hurricanekuma, Marianne O’leary, Adambroachphoto, and Timothy Monaghan via WikiCommons.