Fox effectively fired Montel Williams after he stated during a televised interview that we ought to be at least as concerned about the 28 boys of ours who have died in Iraq since January, as we are about Heath’s death. He also shared the idea that the media community shouldn’t be discussing Ledger as an object in order to drive up ratings. This “young man . . . has not even been buried yet,” Williams admonished. He was, “somebody’s child, somebody’s father.”
When Montel refused to be guided by three colleagues back into a discussion on Ledger, one of the interviewers interrupted him, saying, “More Montel after this commercial break.” But, Montel wasn’t brought back after the break. Next, four days later CBS Television Distribution announced that “The Montel Williams Show” will not be back in production this year. Stations are being offered 52 weeks of the “Best of Montel” reruns to replace the live episodes.
Nellie Andreeva, of the Hollywood Reporter, quotes Williams: “After spending the last 17 years as a talk show host and 22 years prior in the military, I’m looking forward to the opportunities the next 17 years bring.”
See more at
Daily Kos
Blackvoices.com
Variety Magazine
Youtube video of Montel during the Fox interview
I didn’t realize they shut down production of his show over these comments.
What the hell?