Talk-show host Keith Olbermann has been suspended for a week and publicly reprimanded by ESPN for comments that he made on Twitter, calling university students “pitiful” after being sent a link to an article about the $13 million fundraising effort by THON.
EPSN issued the following statement.
“We are aware of the exchange Keith Olbermann had on Twitter last night regarding Penn State. It was completely inappropriate and does not reflect the views of ESPN. We have discussed it with Keith, who recognizes he was wrong. ESPN and Keith have agreed that he will not host his show for the remainder of this week and will return on Monday. The annual tradition of THON and the efforts of the students of Penn State to fight pediatric cancer should be applauded.”
University spokesperson Lawrence Lokman offered this statement after the news broke.
“It’s a shame that ESPN’s Keith Olbermann chose to attack Penn State students who raised more than $13 million for the fight to end pediatric cancer. Mr. Olbermann has apologized, which is appropriate. We challenge him to make a donation to THON.org. The thousands upon thousands of Penn State students who take part in THON every year have created the largest student-led philanthropy program in the world. We could not be more proud of our Penn Staters and their selfless commitment to helping families and children affected by cancer.”
Olbermann issued an apology from his personal Twitter page, but has not removed the tweets attacking the Penn Staters that responded.
I apologize for the PSU tweets. I was stupid and childish and way less mature than the students there who did such a great fundraising job.
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 24, 2015
Olbermann’s hostile exchange with Penn State fans escalated as more attention was attracted. Below is a sampling of the tweets.
I’d like to thank the students and alums of Penn State for proving my point about the mediocrity of their education and ethics. — Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 24, 2015
.@dave_seidel Again – get your $ back – you didn’t learn how to read. PSU students are pitiful because they’re PSU students – period. — Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 23, 2015
.@dave_seidel No, Son. I said PSU students were pitiful. Had nothing to do with fundraising #AlsoPSUReadingComprehensionAppearsToBeWeak — Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 23, 2015
The interactions caught the attention of current and former Penn State football players, who spoke out against Olbermann.
.@KeithOlbermann Only thing more pitiful than you being on TV is your attempt to stay relevant by insulting a charity & PSU student body
— Michael Mauti (@Michael_Mauti) February 24, 2015
“The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, affectionately known as THON, is a yearlong effort to raise funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer. Since 1977, THON has raised more than $127 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. THON 2015 took place on February 20th-22nd, 2015 at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center.” (via www.THON.org)
Photo credit: pennlive.com
