Fox News host John Gibson made fun of Heath Ledger's death on his radio show yesterday. He played clips from Brokeback Mountain, including the line, "I wish I knew how to quit you," after which he joked, "Well, he found out how to quit you!" Gibson played a clip from the movie in which the actor says, "We're dead." He also called Ledger a "weirdo" and claimed he had a serious drug problem. He wondered if maybe Ledger killed himself because of the stock market or because of John Edwards's poor primary showing. (Neither suicide nor drug addiction have been proven to date.)
What is wrong with Gibson that he finds the death of a talented actor (the father of a young girl!) so hilarious? Maybe he's angry that Heath Ledger looked like a Greek god and John Gibson looks like - well, like this.
Think Progress has the full audio here. Horrible, isn't it?
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 10)
1. What makes this more interesting is that a Fox News anchor man has the same sentiments as a member of the Phelps Cult.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj7ef8jUUj4
Jeff Hoard at 6:25PM on Jan 24th 2008
2. This is the epitomy of the problem with the media. This is not a report of the untimely death of a rising star. It is an attempt by a reporter to interject himself into a story. Is this all the public deserves - "shock jock" pretends to be a reporter on Fox. And I hope Fox recognizes how low this stoops as far as "commentary" on a person's death, not editorial review on a film he did not care for.
Rachel Fleming at 6:47PM on Jan 24th 2008
3. How on earth can someone who has a pulpit to which he/she reaches out to many viewers be so damn irresponsible, ignorant, dispicable and lacking of any human emotion or respect??
This is a pig dressed in a ill fitting suit,that has an oppertunity to make good money and has a microphone only to use it to spread vile crap!
How can this parasite sleep at night?
Patty at 6:52PM on Jan 24th 2008
4. And I hope Fox recognizes how low this stoops as far as "commentary" on a person's death, not editorial review on a film he did not care for.
Rachel Fleming at 6:47PM on Jan 24th 2008
*************
Yes well, Rachel.... don't hold your breath! Fox only recognizes opportunistic crap, lies, and ratings. They don't much care about anything else, and that includes their viewers!!
Patty at 6:52PM on Jan 24th 2008
5. If ever a news journalist needed to be fired or "punished" for broadcast remarks, it is John Gibson for his slimy take off on the death of Heath Ledger. I hope we never have to hear the voice or see a photo of John Gibson in our society again. I will never watch or listen to Fox news again as long as this type of slime continues. This is a petition to Fox to do something about Gibson and his evil spirit spouting off such evil thoughts.
SJPierce at 1:31AM on Jan 26th 2008
6. Let's be clear. Gibson is neither a journalist nor a reporter. He's a pundit/commentator who shows bias in everything he discusses.
Journalism should not be confused with the poor excuse for reporting the cable channels spew our way. Reporters are objective reporters. All of the other noisemakers are ratings-seekers who flame the fires to get noticed.
Barbara at 7:08PM on Jan 24th 2008
7. A good reason to stop watching FOX. This guy looks beyond gay besides being butt ugly. He is obviously upset because he never gets attention and negative is better than none (as all children seem to think). Switch from FOX since the idiots working seem so cold and unfeeling. And just how many times did John Gibson watch Broke Back Mountain (drooling and dreaming most likely)to find those exact clips with those lines in it? What an ass.
elle at 7:17PM on Jan 24th 2008
8. Apparently, FOX and/or Gibson have been getting some heat over this...here is his apology:
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?012408/012408_bs_word&Big_Story_My_Word&My%20Word&acc&John%20Gibson&-1&Opinion&44&&&exp
Sadly, there really isn't anything FOX can do to redeem itself after all the recent political controversy. Their slogan "We Report, You Decide" is a complete joke.
emma at 7:26PM on Jan 24th 2008
9. He needs to be fired. Death is no joke. Heath was a very talented actor. There was no type casting when it came to him as an actor he was great to watch my favorite movie was A Knights Tale but enjoyed all of the other movies to. He should not be bashed because of his role in Brokeback Mountain. People need to realize it was a part in a movie. It was not real. He is not gay. and even if he was gay thatwould be his personal life. get over it.(which he was not gay) everyone deserves a life. No one deserves what John Gibson did he needs to apologize to Heath's family and fans and then do some community service I don't beleive for one moment that he killed himself I think it was a reaction from the medicines he was on.
Tasha Smith at 7:27PM on Jan 24th 2008
10. Jeff Hoard, thanks for the video link-another reminder of the Phelps insanity. The interviewer held his own and the response video is awesome.
There just aren't any words to describe how grotesque that family is.
emma at 7:43PM on Jan 24th 2008
11. Disgusting! To look at the man making this statement explains what it is to be so totally self loathing. If not, then at the least, to be loathed by those confronted with the specter of this arrogant, ignorant unfeeling bafoon.
Does FOX never take responsibility for the penultimate in cowardly yellow tabloid sophomoric idiots who themselves desire to increase their little place in the news by making such braying assertions and vulgar statements about a truly talented actor who so recently has been taken so tragically.
May the fate he doles out to the friends and family of Heath Ledger one day be visited upon this extremely ugly jackass.
Steven at 7:51PM on Jan 24th 2008
12. What does one expect from a Hack like Gibson? He is a joke - this man wrote a book a few years ago about how liberals are supposedly "stealing" Christmas. Offering no proof of course - just his typical right wing idiotic paranoia. Yet conservatives defend this waste product Gibson much like Ann Coulter. Go figure.
David S. at 7:56PM on Jan 24th 2008
13. Typical Faux News bullshit.... Let's see if he's suspended over comments made on the air as opposed to comments commentators make at private Roasts.....
Paula at 8:11PM on Jan 24th 2008
14. What in the hell is the matter with you Gibson. Tacky and tasteless!!!
JenJen at 8:10PM on Jan 24th 2008
15. what a jerk, imagine a job where you get paid to make fun of the dead, he's an idiot and obviously prejudice against being gay, too bad he doesn't get canned like Imus did for saying inappropriate things
dianne at 8:29PM on Jan 24th 2008