ESPN gave Curt Schilling his walking papers on Wednesday (April 20th), after a string of offensive comments about current events and hot-button topics from the host. The final straw being a meme the former baseball analyst shared targeting transgenders during his latest episode.
This decision comes after multiple failed attempts to curb Schillings often controversial statements. The host was previously relieved of his duties covering baseball games after he compared Muslims to World World II Nazis. In March, the former Ben Carson campaign supporter, violated ESPN’s politically neutral policy when he was quoted during a radio interview saying Hillary Clinton, “should be buried under a jail somewhere.” ESPN employees are not allowed to comment on political campaigns publicly.
The meme resulting in the firing, comments on the rash of laws enacted to protect gender specific restrooms in public facilities. The meme's caption read, “Let him in! To the restroom with your daughter or else you’re a narrow minded, judgmental, unloving, racist bigot who needs to die”. Schilling commented on the meme saying, “A man is a man no matter what they call themselves,” he continues, “I don’t care what they are, who they sleep with, men’s room was designed for the penis, women’s not so much. Now you need laws telling us differently? Pathetic.”
ESPN released a statement to The Washington Post saying, “ESPN is an inclusive company.” Commenting on the dissolution saying, “Curt Schilling has been advised that his conduct was unacceptable and his employment with ESPN has been terminated.”
Schilling defended his decision to post the meme and encouraged fans to allow the former MLB player his right to freedom of speech. On his personal Facebook page he wrote, “You frauds out there ranting and screaming about my ‘opinions’ (even if it isn’t) and comments are screaming for ‘tolerance’ and ‘acceptance’ while you refuse to do and be either.”’
Although Schilling stands by his position he feels he is being unfairly cast as a bigot saying, “To be in a place where people actually believe I’m a racist or I’m transphobic says to me that something has gone horribly askew somewhere...”.
Source: washingtonpost.com
