Sirius XM radio fired Anthony Cumia of The Opie and Anthony Show after he tweeted “racially-charged and hate-filled remarks” earlier this week.
Sirius XM Senior Vice President of Communications Patrick Reilly issued a statement announcing the firing over the tweets. Reilly said:
“SiriusXM has terminated its relationship with Anthony Cumia of the Opie & Anthony channel. The decision was made, and Cumia informed, late Thursday, July 3 after careful consideration of his racially-charged and hate-filled remarks on social media. Those remarks and postings are abhorrent to SiriusXM, and his behavior is wholly inconsistent with what SiriusXM represents.”
Cumia had tweeted on July 2 that a black woman attacked him after he inadvertently took a picture of her in New York City. He said he called her a c**t multiple times, a “pig,” “savage” and more. He also posted a photo of the woman on his Twitter. Further, he claimed “5 blacks” who he called them “violent savages,” attacked him.
A selection of Cumia’s tweets:
So, I’m taking pix in NYC & a black girl who was in frame punched me in the face. I called her a fucking “&$;;-:” cause that’s what she WAS!
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 2, 2014
Then she punched me 5 more times. She’s lucky I was a white legal gun owner or she’d be dead. Then 5 blacks started giving me shit!
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 2, 2014
I told them to back the fuck off, this wasn’t their show. The cunt then punched me again. Seems white boys don’t hit back. Lucky savage.
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 2, 2014
Wish a cop was around. Although she said she’d tell them I sexually harassed her. Lying cunt. I hope she gets shot in her ass fuck face. Ugh
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 2, 2014
(Gawker and Mediaite have a full collection of Cumia’s numerous tweets about the alleged incident.)
After Cumia’s Twitter rant about the alleged attack, he responded to criticism of his tweets.
2014 America. U can be assaulted by someone, comment that it is savage, animal behavior, then be fired for those comments. #DoomedNation
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 4, 2014
We are living in a strange backward world. Where people support the attacker & the victim is the villain. Enjoy!
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 3, 2014
Bye, I was taking late night NYC pics of everything. Cops, construction, bldgs, homeless, cars, lights and people. I had no agenda u morons.
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 3, 2014
I was assaulted, knew not to put my hands on her. Never felt my life was threatened. Was ultra pissed. Called her bad words. I’m now Satan.
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 3, 2014
Then, on July 4, in response to his firing, Cumia tweeted that it was “bizarro world” that he was fired for his tweets and that he’s “not sorry.”
I wouldn’t apologize. I’m not sorry. Talk to you all after a great summer!
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 4, 2014
Sirius decided to cave and fire me. Welcome to bizarro world. Fired for shit that wasn’t even on the air & wasn’t illegal. So, who’s next?
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 4, 2014
After the wkend, I’ll have a better idea of things. Fuck Sirius. I’ll pop on the Compound show next week and discuss this with TOTAL FREEDOM
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 4, 2014
Most of the people happy I was fired don’t and won’t subscribe to Siruis [sic]. The real O&A fans are canceling subs. Good move Sirius. Ha
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 4, 2014
2014 America. U can be assaulted by someone, comment that it is savage, animal behavior, then be fired for those comments. #DoomedNation
— Anthony Cumia (@AnthonyCumia) July 4, 2014
Cumia was “fired from Boston station WAAF in 1998 for falsely reporting on the then-Mayor Tom Manino [sic],” the Boston Herald reminded.
iMediaEthics has written to Sirius to ask if it requested Cumia apologize and if The Opie and Anthony Show will continue without Cumia.
Hat Tip: Mediaite