Anthony of 'Opie and Anthony' Fired For Twitter Rant

[Caper]

Was this the problem? Or was he directly or indirectly accusing a much larger group of being lawless savages based on skin color?

Yes he was going after black people, or a percentage of black people. That doesn't make you a racist. If a German jew in 1939 slams Germans for letting this Hitler crap go on in their community.... they do not hold a belief that German's are genetically inferior to Jews.

 

[Checkmite]

No there isn't.

Of course there is.

 

[Foolmewunz]

Yes he was going after black people, or a percentage of black people. That doesn't make you a racist. If a German jew in 1939 slams Germans for letting this Hitler crap go on in their community.... they do not hold a belief that German's are genetically inferior to Jews.

Have you read the entire diatribe he launched. It's been taken down but it's archived here. https://storify.com/craigbob99/anthony-cumia-assault

Please read that and tell us if you wish to revise your opinion. Any one comment can be argued to be taken out of context but the entirety is quite damning.

I'm not an O&A fan. Not because they're controversial,, but because I never found them funny. I always thought of them as the poor man's Howard Stern. Stern also crosses the line a lot, so I'm not taking offense at "shock jock" technique. But when they're nailed at being what they are, be it Anthony or Don Imus, then it's rather pathetic to defend them. The defense of "he has every right to be a racist" is IMHO acceptable. It's morally reprehensible, but acceptable based on US common law, precedence, and the Constitution (hallowed be its name). Trying to argue that it's not racist is just plain silly. In fact, as I believe you make the same distinctions I do - e.g. that racism is pretty much in all of us and that it's outright bigotry that's the actual hazard/menace - I take it to that level. Anthony Cumia is a bigot. It's pretty clear from his rant.


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[Giordano]

Yes he was going after black people, or a percentage of black people. That doesn't make you a racist. If a German jew in 1939 slams Germans for letting this Hitler crap go on in their community.... they do not hold a belief that German's are genetically inferior to Jews.

I will leave it to others to help correct you on this point. But yes, if Jews slammed all German's as Nazi's, yes that would be in the spirit of racism (realizing Germans are not usually considered a race). There were certainly Germans opposed to Hitler. And if it helps to clarify my opinion, I am culturally Jewish and lost relatives to the Nazis.

 

[Caper]

I think that "going off" any any group is simply wrong, because it assumes that all members of that group share a (often negative) trait.

No it does not.

 

[Giordano]

No it does not.

Why would you "go off" on a group by that identification unless you believed certain traits were associated with that group? Okay, perhaps you might make exceptions, but clearly racism means that one thinks that membership in a racial group generally predicts a trait separate from the one that defines the group. How is this "telling it like it is" if I may borrow from your prior post? You may think it is, but I have never found this to be useful or true. If someone is a jerk, and you must, call them a jerk. If they are also Black, or Jewish, or Scottish, that is irrelevant to if they are a jerk or not.

 

[angrysoba]

Yes he was going after black people, or a percentage of black people. That doesn't make you a racist. If a German jew in 1939 slams Germans for letting this Hitler crap go on in their community.... they do not hold a belief that German's are genetically inferior to Jews.

I see, so white people are the Jews in this analogy are they? And black people are Germans, and many of them are Nazis?

You think you could alter that ever so slightly and maybe replace some of the whole "black community" and "slavery" with a few words and make it not sound anti-semitic?

How about "The Jews cause all the wars"?

Maybe a few remarks about the Holocaust?

 

[Caper]

Have you read the entire diatribe he launched. It's been taken down but it's archived here. https://storify.com/craigbob99/anthony-cumia-assault

Please read that and tell us if you wish to revise your opinion. Any one comment can be argued to be taken out of context but the entirety is quite damning.

I'm not an O&A fan. Not because they're controversial,, but because I never found them funny. I always thought of them as the poor man's Howard Stern. Stern also crosses the line a lot, so I'm not taking offense at "shock jock" technique. But when they're nailed at being what they are, be it Anthony or Don Imus, then it's rather pathetic to defend them. The defense of "he has every right to be a racist" is IMHO acceptable. It's morally reprehensible, but acceptable based on US common law, precedence, and the Constitution (hallowed be its name). Trying to argue that it's not racist is just plain silly. In fact, as I believe you make the same distinctions I do - e.g. that racism is pretty much in all of us and that it's outright bigotry that's the actual hazard/menace - I take it to that level. Anthony Cumia is a bigot. It's pretty clear from his rant.


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Yeah... there is some over the line in the link you sent. But still, I usually don't judge these things when they are coming from a man fuming. And I don't ascribe to the train of thought that people are more apt to say what they actually believe then they are angry.

For example. When he says

she wouldn't hit a black guy. They'll straight up beat a bitch and they know it.

I wouldn't think that would be his official position

 

[Caper]

I see, so white people are the Jews in this analogy are they? And black people are Germans, and many of them are Nazis?

You think you could alter that ever so slightly and maybe replace some of the whole "black community" and "slavery" with a few words and make it not sound anti-semitic?

How about "The Jews cause all the wars"?

Maybe a few remarks about the Holocaust?

No... actually Jews are Jews in this analogy. You're thinking crazy thoughts.

 

[Caper]

Why would you "go off" on a group by that identification unless you believed certain traits were associated with that group?

It doesn't mean it's the whole group. Saudi men treat women like garbage. When I say that, it should be understood that I'm not literally talking about every single man in Saudi Arabia... nor does it mean I believe there is a genetic component to it.... But it's a pretty good observation to make... and have no problem with people pointing that out.

 

[332nd]

It doesn't mean it's the whole group. Saudi men treat women like garbage. When I say that, it should be understood that I'm not literally talking about every single man in Saudi Arabia... nor does it mean I believe there is a genetic component to it.... But it's a pretty good observation to make... and have no problem with people pointing that out.

So because you're to lazy to add 2-3 words, we should add those words for you because... why?

 

[332nd]

If she were white would all the pathetic social justice warriors be moaning and bitching? Somehow i doubt it.

If he was sponsored by Ford, had his Ford break down, & went on a Twitter rant about how Ford sucks, & gotten himself fired, would the "defenders of free speech" be whining? Somehow I doubt it.

 

[Mumbles]

We can't copy Tweets onto this software but here are the words I cited.]

Right, but that's after he claims to have used it after she hit him *once*.

Poor guy can't seem to keep his story straight.

 

[Mumbles]

I think that "going off" any any group is simply wrong, because it assumes that all members of that group share a (often negative) trait. That has not been my experience, people differ a lot, and lumping everyone together on the basis of some larger group due to their skin color, gender, etc. is indeed racism, sexism, etc. It assumes that belonging to this type of group means all members exhibits a particular trait, often negative (but not necessarily), that is not the basis of the grouping itself. So yes, you might say that "Blacks" tend to have dark skin (although there appears to be quite a range here) but it is clearly racism to say Blacks tend to be cheap (here I intentionally lifted a stereotype that other ethnic groups have been accused of, but one not typically used for Blacks). In fact, what exactly is "black culture?"

In my experience, there are two types of people who like to talk about the problems in "the black community". The first are the people in those black neighborhoods, who march, hold rallies and vigils, and work to steer kids away from drugs and crime, and help them get an education. The second are people who would never step foot in a black neighborhood, but *love* to throw rocks and feel superior.

And I can't find any photos of this Cumia guy at a Stop the Violence rally.

 

[Meed]

I'd think it's weird that several people who are listeners to O&A's show have been very critical of his comments too, but I'm posting this while listening to Tyler, the Creator who is very much a provocateur and admittedly uses slurs because they'll offend his target without regard for those that are the usual target of them.

I can't stand listening to some of his songs most of the time (Blow, Transylvania, Tron Cat, Pigs, Fish) but he also has some really great stuff.

That's pretty much it. He's a crappy human being in many ways, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy his strong comedic talents on a comedy show (not to mention all the other talented contributors to the show who aren't Anthony).

I can't really bring myself to get bent out of shape about his firing though. In principle I'm against it, but as a fan I take some degree of satisfaction from it. Because his racism detracted from a show I like and I've been frustrated by it on numerous occasions.

Yes he was going after black people, or a percentage of black people. That doesn't make you a racist. If a German jew in 1939 slams Germans for letting this Hitler crap go on in their community.... they do not hold a belief that German's are genetically inferior to Jews.

I hear where you're coming from, but if you'd listened to the show as much as I have then I suspect you'd agree that he is, in fact, racist. And I suspect you would interpret his twitter rant less charitably.

 

[Caper]

The second are people who would never step foot in a black neighborhood, but *love* to throw rocks and feel superior.

And I can't find any photos of this Cumia guy at a Stop the Violence rally.

Really? You have to actually attend rallies to participate in the conversation. That is your bias and bigotry of those people.... but it's not actually the case.

 

[Mumbles]

Really? You have to actually attend rallies to participate in the conversation.

You act like attending a rally is a superheroic act. It's actually something that people with far fewer resources, and far less free time, than Anthony Cumia do daily - and this does include white people. Thus, he has no excuse not to do so, if he's so upset by the matter.

That is your bias and bigotry of those people.... but it's not actually the case.

My bigotry of which people? What's not the case? What are you saying?

...Actually, never mind.

 

[Caper]

You act like attending a rally is a superheroic act. It's actually something that people with far fewer resources, and far less free time, than Anthony Cumia do daily - and this does include white people. Thus, he has no excuse not to do so, if he's so upset by the matter.

So how does it work exactly? If you are from say.... China. And you happen to agree with Bill Cosby when he is critical of African Americans who put higher priorities on sports, fashion, and "acting hard" than on education, self-respect, and self-improvement (his words not mine)..... Is that Chinese person then a racist? Or if he makes an effort to fly to Chicago for an anti-violence rally he suddenly becomes a non racist? Who does it work?

 

[Donal]

None of that proves racism. Even if he is wrong.

When you put it all together, yes it does.

He has a problem with certain aspects of black culture..... Just like Bill Cosby.

To me it's and angry rant about the worst parts of black culture and a guy pissed off about it.

That is much, much different then racism.

OK, you must be kidding. There is no way you can look at the criticism Bill Cosby has laid on black people and what Cumia does here and say they are similar. The tone, the context, the language, everything is different.

You are just trolling with that statement, right?

 

[Caper]

OK, you must be kidding. There is no way you can look at the criticism Bill Cosby has laid on black people and what Cumia does here and say they are similar. The tone, the context, the language, everything is different.

I didn't say that.... you did.

Mumbles made the claim that.

there are two types of people who like to talk about the problems in "the black community". The first are the people in those black neighborhoods, who march, hold rallies and vigils, and work to steer kids away from drugs and crime, and help them get an education. The second are people who would never step foot in a black neighborhood, but *love* to throw rocks and feel superior.

He makes no mention of the criticism being leveled in a manner that Anthony choose.... nor did I. You brought that up.