GLAAD applauds CNN’s suspension of Roland Martin for tweets he posted on Super Bowl Sunday

CNN commentator Roland Martin has been taken off the air ‘for the time being’ in the wake of a Twitter controversy that occurred on Super Bowl Sunday.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has been calling for Martin’s firing for tweets he wrote during the Super Bowl about an H&M advertisement featuring soccer star David Beckham.

They included: ‘Ain’t no real bruhs going to H&M to buy some damn David Beckham underwear.’

He also tweeted to his more than 95,000 followers: ‘If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him!’

CNN said in a statement today: “‘Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being.’

GLAAD applauded CNN’s action: ‘CNN today took a strong stand against anti-LGBT violence and language that demeans any community,’ spokesperson Rich Ferraro said. “We look forward to hearing from CNN and Roland Martin to discuss how we can work together as allies and achieve our common goal of reducing anti-LGBT violence as well as the language that contributes to.’

Earlier this week, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition, the nation’s largest black LGBT civil rights organization, also spoke out: “Even if he meant it in a jovial manner, Roland Martin’s words carry a real impact on the everyday lives of Black LGBT people, especially our youth. Given the number of rash murders, attacks and violent acts involving LGBT people of color, we cannot let statements such as this go unchecked. Silence is a form of acceptance and only perpetuates the problem.”

Go to Gay Star News to read my full story on the controversy.