Earlier this week, I wrote about Fox News Channel’s John Gibson ridiculing Heath Ledger after Ledger had been found dead in his Brooklyn apartment. Gibson has finally managed to offer a tepid apology, I’m not finding myself in much of a mood to accept his feigned contrition. While I appreciate the words, that’s all they really are. I see Gibson’s lips moving and I hear the words. What I don’t see or hear is any evidence of actual contrition and regret for being such an unreconstructed DUMB@$$.
What disturbs me more than anything is that there appears to be no consequence visited upon Gibson for his offensive and hurtful words. This was not Kelly Tilghman making an innocent but symbolically unfortunate comment with racial overtones. No, Gibson was being deliberately, knowingly, and aggressively hurtful and mean-spirited…and thought he was being hilarious while doing it.
Tilghman also offered an on-air apology- after serving a two-week suspension. The fact that Fox News Channel has offered nothing but studied silence in the wake of Gibson’s comments can and should be taken as tacit approval of and agreement with the sentiments expressed. Equally disturbing is the fact that the Mainstream Media has all but ignored Gibson’s diatribe while running Tilghman into the ground- this after Tiger Woods said her comments were a non-issue.
Gibson’s apology was a necessary but wholly insufficient first step. Why he’s being allowed to continue on-air is something that defies rational understanding- unless you recognize that Roger Ailes and his fellow knuckle-draggers at FNC are probably still wetting themselves while laughing uproariously over Gibson’s comments.
WE DESERVE BETTER. And so do Heath Ledger’s family and friends.