WWL Radio tweets homophobic slur about WWL sports reporter Seth Dunlap (2 Viewers)

[SystemShock]

Seth could have used the incident to really bring about meaningful discussions around this topic. He definitely had the platform and was well respected. But I guess its a lot easier to just collect a lump sum from a settlement.

Meaningful discussions with who?

 

[insidejob]

When someone even broached the subject when they called into the early pregame show with Steve Korte who is usually partnered with Seth for that show, they shut him down halfway through his comments in support of Seth. Pretty telling that WWL is just trying to sweep this under the rug and are basically blackballing him from coming back to work.

Seems like they support the troll who made the hateful twitter post more than they do Seth, who has a loyal following and has been nothing but good for their network. Screw them. His show was the only one that I would actively try to listen to if I was in the car that late, and I often catch some of Scoot since I have appointments around town during his show. At least he's mostly tolerant of all people's opinions no matter if he agrees with them or not. Newell Normand doesn't even try to be impartial anymore like he did when he first got the show. He's insufferable. I just turn him off.

Seth posted what he did on his personal facebook page, not WWL's, so it isn't like he was actively trying to put his words in their mouths.

 

[superchuck500]

Some think Seth did use his platform when he posted on Facebook about Brees and FoF.
He’s also posted several things on Twitter subsequently.

He wasn’t fired from WWL either so he has a job there if he wants. Some wanted him fired after the facebook post to Brees. Not sure WWL wants their platform used for this.

As Seth said, He wants to be a sportscaster, not a ‘gay’ sportscaster. He also said that he doesn’t want this to be about him.

Personally, I think his sex life is irrelevant to the job as a sportscaster. It’s not fair to expect him to be an activist. If he wants to be one then fine.

WWL has a strong relationship with Drew Brees and the Saints. Brees is on another level when it comes to VIP’s in the sportsworld of this town. I think WWL tries to tread carefully on his ground. Not saying it’s right or wrong. It’s business.

Seth posted his open letter to Drew on his personal facebook page. He then tweeted it from his personal twitter account. Did he talk about during his show? I don't know - but if he didn't, I don't see how it was anything other than his personal views on the matter. And I have read it several times now and I challenge anyone to point out where it wasn't completely respectful and intended to explain something that some people in the community were having a hard time understanding . . . or at least as he saw it.

Media personalities have opinions - they're used to sharing them. If Seth Dunlap is a sports media personality, does that mean he can't express other views, even on his personal time? That's quite a viewpoint to say the least.

But I'll say this again - continuing to view the offensive slur tweet on WWL's official twitter page as some logical end to Seth's personal open-letter is tantamount to saying 'he got what was coming to him' - and I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt that you're not actually saying that, but at some point the question has to be asked.

There was nothing unprofessional about Seth's letter. If WWL or anyone at WWL in their official capacity took issue with him sharing his personal views on his personal social media pages, they should bring him in and have a discussion about his employer's views on that kind of personal expression. That's what professional, appropriate adults do. Whoever went on to WWL's twitter page and called him a *** didn't behave like a professional adult - but like a low-life piece of trash who has to resort to disgusting acts because they're incapable of expressing themselves appropriately.

That has to be dealt with and it operates on an entirely different plane that Seth's comments on the FoF situation. If WWL doesn't come public with some kind of statement of what it's doing about it, I think it's a clear failure of the company to respond appropriately to what was a public, patently offensive, and totally unacceptable act - and failing to appropriately respond should give anyone or any company pause to consider transacting with that operation.

But again, this just happened. I don't know why there's some rush to presume that Seth is just looking for a settlement and does not intend to use this incident in a more positive way. Similarly, I don't think it's fair to bash WWL for "doing nothing" - they might very well be doing something, we just don't know what that is yet.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

When someone even broached the subject when they called into the early pregame show with Steve Korte who is usually partnered with Seth for that show, they shut him down halfway through his comments in support of Seth. Pretty telling that WWL is just trying to sweep this under the rug and are basically blackballing him from coming back to work.

Seems like they support the troll who made the hateful twitter post more than they do Seth, who has a loyal following and has been nothing but good for their network. Screw them. His show was the only one that I would actively try to listen to if I was in the car that late, and I often catch some of Scoot since I have appointments around town during his show. At least he's mostly tolerant of all people's opinions no matter if he agrees with them or not. Newell Normand doesn't even try to be impartial anymore like he did when he first got the show. He's insufferable. I just turn him off.

Seth posted what he did on his personal facebook page, not WWL's, so it isn't like he was actively trying to put his words in their mouths.

That’s a bit too much tea leaf reading, for me
I think it’s much more likely wwl lawyers told korte (maybe, in particular) to say absolutely nothing- all the commentators could do would be to cause more trouble for wwl

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Personally, I think his sex life is irrelevant to the job as a sportscaster. It’s not fair to expect him to be an activist. If he wants to be one then fine.

I think this is a good but subtle point
expecting each member of a ‘disenfranchised ‘ group to wave the flag and speak with a unified voice is just another way to perpetuate the ‘rightness’ of the group being disenfranchised in the first place
(‘Right’ meaning correct)

 

[antipop]

i just hope they find out it was Bobby Hebert

 

[insidejob]

That’s a bit too much tea leaf reading, for me
I think it’s much more likely wwl lawyers told korte (maybe, in particular) to say absolutely nothing- all the commentators could do would be to cause more trouble for wwl

Well, when this first broke, Scoot said on his show that there are only a few people with access to the WWL twitter and facebook accounts and that they weren't hacked. He said he hoped they would be exposed and fired within a few days and Seth would be back on the air ASAP. Sure seems like things have taken a big turn from there. And it seems like it's Seth's decision, but rightfully so. They did nothing to support or defend him when this happened.

I'm with antipoop. I've been seriously wishing it was Hebert since it happened and he'd finally be run out of town.

 

[Doug B]

Ever listen to Newell Norman? Start there

He's conservative, but to my knowledge has not spoken out against homosexual rights. What have you heard different? Or is just a case of "C'mon ... he's a conservative ... you know how they are" ?

 

[antipop]

antipoop

i am definitely pro-poop

but seriously, do you think WWL has the stones to run Hebert out of town?? doubtful

 

[Doug B]

They did nothing to support or defend him when this happened.

Kristian Garic defended Seth Dunlap vehemently, on air, the day it happened (top of the 4:00 hour, after ads). Garic was p.o.'d and obviously disgusted with the tweet against Dunlap. However, Garic closed his statements by saying he would not take any calls about the topic after he's said his peace.

You can't really expect WWL to open up their programming to be dominated by this topic. Maybe they've got legal considerations on the station's end, as well.

 

[superchuck500]

Well, when this first broke, Scoot said on his show that there are only a few people with access to the WWL twitter and facebook accounts and that they weren't hacked. He said he hoped they would be exposed and fired within a few days and Seth would be back on the air ASAP. Sure seems like things have taken a big turn from there. And it seems like it's Seth's decision, but rightfully so. They did nothing to support or defend him when this happened.

I'm with antipoop. I've been seriously wishing it was Hebert since it happened and he'd finally be run out of town.

Until we hear otherwise, we have to presume it's just a leave of absence to give himself time to process it and see what his employer is going to about a hostile and offensive act directed at him in his workplace. What other things have happened that mark a 'big turn'?

I'm just having a hard time seeing Bobby Hebert being able to remember a company password. I'm sure his personal passwords are all 'password12345'.

 

[Doug B]

I think it’s much more likely wwl lawyers told korte (maybe, in particular) to say absolutely nothing- all the commentators could do would be to cause more trouble for wwl

This is obvious -- that's got to be what the first semester of law school covers in-depth: Shut your client the he!! up!

 

[insidejob]

Until we hear otherwise, we have to presume it's just a leave of absence to give himself time to process it and see what his employer is going to about a hostile and offensive act directed at him in his workplace. What other things have happened that mark a 'big turn'?

I'm just having a hard time seeing Bobby Hebert being able to remember a company password. I'm sure his personal passwords are all 'password12345'.

He intimated initially that he'd be back at work soon. Soon has come and gone.

 

[superchuck500]

He intimated initially that he'd be back at work soon. Soon has come and gone.

By what standard?

 

[insidejob]

Kristian Garic defended Seth Dunlap vehemently, on air, the day it happened (top of the 4:00 hour, after ads). Garic was p.o.'d and obviously disgusted with the tweet against Dunlap. However, Garic closed his statements by saying he would not take any calls about the topic after he's said his peace.

You can't really expect WWL to open up their programming to be dominated by this topic. Maybe they've got legal considerations on the station's end, as well.

So did Scoot. I'm talking about WWL management. And I don't expect them to hold shows about the incident. I'm just saying that their response, as a radio station, has been less than supportive and they've done nothing to rectify what happened by publicly acknowledging who did it and firing them. If so few people have the ability to post on those two accounts, it can't be that hard to find out who it was, unless every single one of them are homophobic morons.