If you want to learn how to make enemies in Hollywood (and beyond) take lessons from Michael Savage. The popular (or once so) radio talk show host is feeling the heat from parents everywhere, especially those whose offspring are challenged with autism.
On his nationally syndicated radio show last week Savage described 99 percent of children with autism as “brats.” (His exact quote was: “In 99 percent of the cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out.”) And he didn’t stop there. Savage went on to say: “What do you mean they scream and they’re silent? They don’t have a father around to tell them, `Don’t act like a moron. You’ll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there crying and screaming, you idiot.'”
And if you didn’t think that was bad enough, earlier this week Savage used his website to rub salt into the wound by offering no apologies for his statements. Rather, he defended his comments by saying he was trying to “boldly awaken” parents to his view that many people are being wrongly diagnosed. Savage then blamed “greedy doctors and drug companies” who create a “national panic” by overdiagnosing autism, a mental disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate.
In the days since Savage’s thoughtless remarks thousands of parents of autistic children, including actress Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, former professional football player Rodney Peete have called for Savage’s firing.
In a statement issued yesterday, the couple — who have a 10-year-old son, Rodney Jr. (R.J.), with autism — said they “find it shocking that the individuals who name call and pass judgment on families like ours, have had zero experience with the disorder or its effects on a child and his/her family.” The statement adds that Savage’s comments are “irresponsible, insulting and painful to our children and furthers the backlash they face every day.”
According to the National Autism Association, a parents’ advocacy group, about 1 in 150 children have some form of autism. Reps from the group went public on Monday saying Savage’s comments were “way, way, way over the line and cruel.”
As for Savage he seems to be enjoying the publicity his controversial statements have generated. According to media insiders, Savage has more than 8 million listeners a week and is talk radio’s third most popular personality behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.
Making bold and outrageous statements is how this guy makes his living. His brief MSNBC show was canceled after he told a caller he should “get AIDS and die, you pig.” How he got another radio gig after that incident is beyond me.
What do you make of Savage’s comments?
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