Category: Media Industry Author : Kim LaCapria Posted: June 8, 2009
Tags : controversy, Gay Lesbian and Bisexual, gay protests, morning radio shows, rob arnie and dawn show, shock jocks
Sacramento, CA morning drive show ”Rob, Arnie and Dawn” has ceased broadcasting until June 11th following advertiser and listener backlash due to a controversial segment bashing transgender and cross-dressing teens.
Chipotle, Snapple and Sonic are among nine advertisers withdrawing crucial business from the show in protest of the May 28th broadcast. During the show, co-host Arnie States said:
“If my son, God forbid, if my son put on a pair of high heels, I would probably hit him with one of my shoes. I would throw a shoe at him.”
Host Rob Williams concurred.
“A boy who wears a dress is a freak. He’s a nut.”
The pair went on to admonish transgender people and their supporters to “stop hiding behind research and laws.” It bears repeating that some studies indicate gay, lesbian and transgender teens are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.
In a headache-inducing, all-caps statement made on their website, the hosts had this to say for themselves:
WE PRESENTED OUR OPINIONS ON A VERY SENSITIVE SUBJECT IN A HATEFUL, CHILDISH AND CRUDE FASHION; AND THEN, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETRACT THOSE REMARKS, WE DEFENDED THEM.
SINCE THEN, YOU, OUR LOYAL LISTENERS, HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO US THAT WE WENT TOO FAR. THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING. NONE OF YOU SAID THAT WE COULDN’T HAVE OPINIONS, YET SO MANY OF YOU SAID THAT THE WAY WE GAVE THEM CROSSED THE LINE. FURTHER, YOU SAID THAT OUR ATTEMPT TO MASK OUR COMMENTS AS “JOKES THAT WOULD BE UNDERSTOOD BY OUR AUDIENCE,” WAS UNACCEPTABLE. I WOULD SAY NOW THAT IT WAS WORSE THAN THAT, IT WAS COWARDLY. YOU HAVE MADE THAT CLEAR.
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Jun 8, 2009
They, Rob Arnie and Dawn, made a choice to not broadcast any new shows until Thrusday when they can meet with transgenders who will be with them in the studio on that morning of the 11th. They did not feel it was right to go back to business for 3 days and not be able to address this issue until Thrusday which is due to scheduling of those guests that they are asking to join them. So before you post something online, GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT FIRST!!!
And for the record, Rob Arnie and Dawn have MANY CHARITIES that they as a radio show have raised millions of dollars for over the past 12 yrs. IF they are FORCED to leave the air, then all these charities and organizations that they have so genoursly given of their time to assist in by having fundrasiers will suffer! And lets not forget, this not only effects the many, many charities that help raise money for, but also effects the people that work behind the scenes of the show and the radio station.Those people will be without a job if the show is no longer show. So before you cast the next stone, look at the whole picture here. Stop being so hateful!!!!
And by the way for those of you that believe everything you read, Rob and Arnie do not even have any children, so there is no son to “throw a shoe at”. Knowing about the show as I do because I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA AND AM A LISTENER OF THE SHOW, this is typical Arnie……do I believe everythign he says on the show as the gospel, HELL NO!! Was it nice what he said, do I agree with what he said about transgender children, or the community as a whole, did I go home and scream at my son you “better not dress like a girl you pansy ass”. NO, I as a listener did no such thing, his comments did not effect me or make me change my mind about this issue one way or another. Do I think he should have shut up after 10 mins talking about it, sure he should have. Do I think that if he offended the transgender community that he should apologize to them, of course he should. The point I am trying to make here, it is a radio show, it is not a cult, I do not LET WHAT THEY SAY MAKE ME THINK ANY DIFFERENT ABOUT ONE ISSUE OR ANOTHER. it is a RADIO SHOW, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. This needs to be let go after thrusdays broadcast, I am tired of hearing all the whinning…..WAAAAAHHH!!
Jun 8, 2009
@calidreams- Thanks for the feedback! If you re-read the article, you'll notice what I said was, “…has ceased broadcasting until June 11th following advertiser and listener backlash due to a controversial segment bashing transgender and cross-dressing teens.”
I did not say they were pulled from the air or anything similar. Likewise, I also linked to their *full* statement so people could read their side in their own words.
Jun 9, 2009
Im sorry but knowing i dont have to hear them truly make my morning something i dont have to think about,I can hear music,and thats why I turn the radio on,
Im loyal to my radio and its music,Not fake giggling,fake fightinging and loud over opinionated people that really have nothing I want to hear in the morning .Maybe there sould be a few days we other people can listen for the music most of the time.
I dont listen in the morning because of them,Im sure I speak for mny people,I know people in my shop feel that way too.
Jun 9, 2009
amazing what bored people will choose to pick on. if you cant say what you wish then i guess we might as well have our brains and mouths removed. anyone with any other opinion can say whatever they wish…..but ……as long as the small groups that want to make an uproar want to make a stink then EVERYONE listens. give me a break. everyone deserves a voice and i would not quiet the small ones nor the big ones. get over it and just live. people are going to differ in opinion just as we differ in color race and creed. get over it you angry people that dont want anyone elses opinion expressed than yours. stop killing our individuality. difference in opinion and even ways of doing things is not hate . hitler was hate, killing of the american indian was hate, dragging a man behind a truck is hate, a simple voice is not hate, it is angry but action is considered true hate .
Jun 10, 2009
“It's only bad news if it happens to you”
Rob, Arnie and Dawn are always pushing the limits, but the gay community was the wrong one to mess with. I've been listening to them since they first came to Sacramento and they do a lot of good and have made a lot of commuting trips in the car more entertaining. If you don't like what they have to say change the station, but wait all these people complaing have never even listened to the show, a lot don't even live in the area. Everyone can have a opinion that's what makes America, AMERICA! That's what their show is all about. People need to stop taking things so litteraly.
Have you seen the lady who filed a law suite against captain crunch, because there's no really berries in the cereal. It's a cartoonish cereal designed for kids the little colored balls look like cartoon berries. What the hell's going on. You may as well throw in that they made you diabetic to.
Jun 10, 2009
I just wanted to say I Love you and miss you guys!!! You get me to work every morning laughing usually. Just know I hope you learn from the mistake you made and get back on the air soon. I was listening that morning of coarse, and I just wanted to say that we all make mistakes we wish we could take back. Some are worse than others. Just take every mistake you make in life and learn from it and move on. You guys are the best, miss you!
Jun 10, 2009
Who gives a crap alot of people think like that. It just shows that the transgeneder people are weak. Rob Arnie and dawn u shouldnt have to apologize its an opinion. This just makes me dislike transgender people now because of this.
Jun 10, 2009
Seriously? Your comment sounds like a joke, but I have a feeling it's not. “This just makes me dislike transgender people now…” ..The TG people are “weak.” lmfao!!!
It's either hilarious because you're joking, or hilarious because you mean it & are a complete tool.
Jun 11, 2009
They didn't criticise “transgender teens”. They went after 5 and 8 year olds, saying how much they looked forward to when they grew up, and society would beat down on them. And calling them attention-seeking freaks, idiots etc and saying they should be physically assaulted and given electric shock treatment.
If they'd gone after adults, I doubt anyone would have bothered with their bigotry. They're shock-jocks after all. But since 50% of trans kids self-harm because they get exactly the treatment these guys were advocating “as a joke”, they crossed a line. When the sponsors listened to the tapes, they fled, wanting nothing to do with advocates of child abuse.
Jul 26, 2011
Apologizing to keep your jobs isn't apologizing. Either stick to your opinion or quit. Otherwise your are gutless twits. Ok you are, my bad.
Nov 19, 2011
Robstrong! I like the first comments much better.