September 10, 2013
Fox Drops Sports Broadcaster Craig James for Anti-Gay Remarks
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Even conservative news outlets like Fox are now taking measures to avoid homophobic bigots: the network dropped a football commentator after anti-gay comments made by the man resurfaced.
Fox Sports Southwest had announced Craig James for its fall lineup of football commentators, however, his contract was revoked after the company found out about James comment's during his bid for the U.S. Senate in Texas, according to the Dallas Morning News.
During a GOP primary debate with Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, James criticized Leppert for attending a gay Pride parade.
"I think right now in this country, our moral fiber is sliding down a slope that is going to be hard to stop if we don't stand up with leaders who don't go ride in gay parades," James reportedly said. "I can assure you I will never ride in a gay parade."
James also evoked religious condemnation for the minority group.
"I think that you have to make that choice," James said. "But in that case right there, they are going to have to answer to the Lord for their actions. We should not give benefits to those civil unions."
James, a former NFL running back, had already been fired by ESPN following these comments during his political campaign.
A Fox Sports spokesman confirmed last week they wouldn't hire James for his homophobic comments.
"We just asked ourselves how Craig's statements would play in our human resources department," a spokesperson said. "He couldn't say those things here."
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
