790 The Zone, fires “Mayhem In The AM” hosts for Steve Gleason joke
Three Atlanta radio hosts are out of jobs this morning after mocking a terminally ill former NFL player. On June 17, Steve Gleason wrote the “Monday Morning Quarterback” detailing what it’s like to live with ALS also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The disease affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages about two to five years from the time of diagnosis.
Due to the disease Gleason, who played for the New Orleans Saints, cannot write and wrote his “Monday Morning Quarterback” piece with his eyes–a task that took 4 hours.
Following the release of Gleason’s work, three “Mayhem in the AM” hosts for Atlanta’s 790 the Zone took to the air and performed a skit mocking him.
The trio pretended to have Gleason call in and talk through a computerized voice. The fake Gleason made knock-knock jokes about his condition and at one point said he didn’t know if “he’d be alive next Thursday.
All three hosts—“Steak” Shapiro, Nick Cellini, and Chris Dimino have since been fired.
“We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on ‘Mayhem In The AM’ on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS,” Rick Mack, 790 The Zone senior vice president and general manager, said in a prepared statement on the matter.
“We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment. 790 The Zone, our owners, sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support this kind of content. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Gleason, his family and all those touched by ALS.”
The Atlanta Falcons have also released a statement.
“The Falcons are disappointed in the comments made about former Saints player Steve Gleason on a local Atlanta radio station Monday morning,” said the NFL organization.
“The content concerning Mr. Gleason was completely inappropriate and is not representative of the views of the Falcons organization, nor does it represent the way we conduct our business on and off the field. To single out Steve the way he was this morning is totally lacking in taste and discretion.”
-danielle canada
