In the days after contributing CNN political analyst and journalist Roland S. Martin fired off a few tweets during Sunday’s Super Bowl contest heard around the world, the network is suspending the outspoken pundit for comments deemed offensive by GLAAD. Although Martin formally apologized after GLAAD relentlessly called for his termination, CNN suspended the analyst today for an undisclosed amount of time.
Concerning the suspension, a statement from CNN reads as follows:
“Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being.”
Martin’s initial tweet criticizing the David Beckham H&M ad, which featured the soccer star shirtless and clad in briefs, began the outrage and GLAAD’s campaign to have Martin ousted. “If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him! #superbowl,” tweeted Martin. GLAAD even took umbrage at Martin’s apology, in which he deemed his tweets as a ribbing of soccer, declaring that the analyst was not genuine in his remorse.
Martin was also under fire earlier on Sunday after tweeting about a New England Patriot player arriving at the venue. “Who the hell was that New England Patriot they just showed in a head to toe pink suit? Oh, he needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass,” tweeted Martin.
Martin has yet to offer any comment on the CNN suspension and his Twitter account shows little in the way of any follow up statements regarding the controversy.
