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Heath Ledger: Fox Newsman Apologizes After Controversy, More Updates
Heath Ledger by Jim Spellman/ WireImage.com, John Gibson courtesy Fox News Radio
This evening, on Fox News' The Big Story journo John Gibson said he's "sorry" for some controversial comments he made on Wednesday about the late Heath Ledger. Discussing the day's headlines, Gibson dismissed Ledger as a "weirdo" with a "serious drug problem," and obnoxiously mocked the "I wish I knew how to quit you" line from Brokeback Mountain, snarking that Ledger had found the definitive way to "quit you." To clinch the early lead in the Dolt of the Year contest, Gibson also repeatedly suggested that Ledger had killed himself in response to other grim national headlines. (VIDEO: Watch MSNBC's Dan Abrams put Gibson in his place.)
Tonight, however, a slightly more contrite Gibson concluded his segment by saying, "To anyone offended by my comments [yesterday], I'm sorry." To clarify further, he went on to add that he was also sorry that Ledger had died.
In more rational happenings, production on The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus — which Ledger had been in the midst of filming — has shut down, enacting a force majeur clause which frees a production company from liability in the event of a natural disaster or the illness/death of a major cast member.
Lastly, funeral arrangements have been made for Ledger and relatives are expected to arrive in New York City on Friday. Outside of that, however, "The family doesn't want us to give out any information," the funeral home manager tells the AP.
Related:
• Video Blog: Ellen DeGeneres Pays Tribute to Heath Ledger
• News: Olsen Twin Called Before 911; Plus, Jack Nicholson's Warning
• News: Heath Ledger Autopsy "Inconclusive"
• Ausiello: Grieving Heath Ledger via Ennis Del Mar
• Watch video: News coverage of Ledger's shocking death
• Watch video: Clips from Ledger's films
• Photo gallery: Heath Ledger's life in pictures
• Photo gallery: Stars and friends tribute Ledger
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Jan 24, 2008 4:35 PM
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A talented young man dies and this old troll continues to breathe precious air and take up valuable space. What a world!
I bet if it had been some young religious Republican-supporting actor all the yahoos at Faux News would be wearing black arm bands.
Jackasses!
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Jan 24, 2008 4:53 PM
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we shouldn't even have to respond to the actions of a uncaring individual. that said, i cannot believe the gall of that so-called newsman to even speak of someone he did not know personally in that way. especially after that person has just passed away. whether heath ledger had killed himself or not is not the issue. we have no right to make judgements about someone. we do not know what kind of personal demons this man was fighting or if it truly was an accident. to let this man on the air say these unspeakable things about someone was inexcusable. what gives this man the right to pass judgement on a man that must have been in horrible pain. he should be reprimanded and shown the door. it was truly despicable. i truly hope that fox news handles this in an appropriate manner and apologizes to the ledger family, his friends, and his fans.
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Jan 24, 2008 5:08 PM
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It is as bad as the church that plans to 'crash' the funeral service.
How totally unthoughtful and viscious for both of them!!
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Jan 24, 2008 5:23 PM
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what a moron
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Jan 24, 2008 5:27 PM
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What a bunch of morons.
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Jan 24, 2008 5:28 PM
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I'm so glad Dan Abrams said what he did. What Gibson said and did was uncalled for and completely unprofessional.
People like him (and the "Church" protesting HL's funeral) make me sick. That church made the comment that God hates people like that ... that is complete BS ... anybody in their right mind knows that God doesn't hate anyone and if they were true Christians then they'd know it isn't right to do what they're doing.
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Jan 24, 2008 5:48 PM
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When will the haters realize that God hates no one, but He is most assuredly EXTREMELY DISPLEASED with haters?!?
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Jan 24, 2008 6:01 PM
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Well yet another lame-assed "apology". It's not an apology if you say "I'm sorry if anyone was offended" which Gibson did. I had to sit through the entire hour of his craptacular show to hear it. He also said he was sorry if people interpreted his comments as anti-gay.
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Jan 24, 2008 6:03 PM
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This piece of crap works for Fox News.
I think that explains the ignorance right there.
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Jan 24, 2008 7:12 PM
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Whoooooooosh-gong!!!
This is a FOX News Alert...
John Gibson is a typical right-wing lugnut!!!
Puh-leeze! He isn't sorry about what he said -- that's how he really feels! What he's sorry about is that this has aimed a negative spotlight on him.
He was forced to apologize -- either by FOX News or by his own fear of career damage.
And thanks, Matt, for the link to the Dan Abrams segment. Yay, Dan Abrams! Don't let these whackos get away with this stuff.
There was a lot of truly disturbing stuff in that video, the most disturbing being the toxic Christian group which plans to picket Ledger's funeral and which passed out a flyer reading:
"Heath Ledger thought it was great fun defying God Almighty and His plain word...God hates the sordid, tacky bucket of slime seasoned with vomit known as 'Brokeback Mountain' -- and He hates all persons having anything whatsoever to do with it."
Oh, and then there were the comments from Yahoo:
"He probably felt so guilty for playing that role that he killed himself."
"That is what he gets for participating in poisoning the minds of people with gayness."
Are these nuts for real? Are these people actually out walking the streets? The answer, sadly, is yes to both.
And we all know that there are also a lot of these types of losers lurking around TV Guide Online, too -- always ready to liven up their pathetic lives by spewing vile, sociopathic anti-gay swill at the most inappropriate times.
Curiously, they thrive on the hatred and condemnation from the other members of the community -- apparently, lonely, maladjusted outcasts would rather be loathed than ignored completely.
These people should be lounging around the rec room of a sanitarium in straitjackets -- yet they aren't, and, what's more, they'll be voting in the next election.
Now that's a scary thought.
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Jan 24, 2008 7:26 PM
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those phelps "christian" freaks are about as christian as osama bin laden---and equally as twisted and evil! papa phelps needs to just come out and get it over with so he can enjoy his final years in peace! and for god's sakes, please stop reproducing. someone needs to spike that "church's" drinking fountain with birth control pills!
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Jan 24, 2008 7:53 PM
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What a sicko John Gibson is. Mocking Heath Ledgers death the way he did was totally uncalled for. He should be begging forgivness from Heaths family for what he did. I also think Fox news should be called upon to fire this hateful man. As for that so called church, is this not the same group that shows up at the funerals for servicemen and women who died in service of their country? These people are not christian. I hope they will not be allowed to enter Australia, if that is where Heaths funeral takes place. My prayers are for Heath and his family at this dreadful time.
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Jan 24, 2008 7:56 PM
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i've never been able to stomach FOX "news", but this guy is just another bitter, hateful, self-loathing right-wing mouthpiece. none of them have any pride, integrity, compassion. and since the criminal's "approval" rating is in the 20s, there cant be too many lemmings watching this junk anymore, maybe it will just go away
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Jan 24, 2008 8:01 PM
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Can we get Al Sharpton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson on the case? They do believe in equality for ALL people, right? They should be just as outraged over this as they were over Don Imus' comments.
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Jan 24, 2008 8:10 PM
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