Fox Responds To NFL Disciplining Player For Anti-Gay Tweets About Michael Sam: Could It “Offend … Free Speech?”
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Donald Trump Wonders Whether “The Country Is Going To Hell.”
Fox News is worried about an NFL player who was disciplined for posting anti-gay tweets about Michael Sam, the first openly gay football player to be drafted.
On May 10, Sam made history by becoming the first openly gay football player to be drafted to the National Football League, when he was selected as the 249th draft pick by the St. Louis Rams. Sam, who had previously weathered a storm of right-wing criticism when he spoke out about his sexual orientation in February, was shown on television kissing his boyfriend after receiving news that he had been drafted.
The kiss sparked homophobic attacks online — Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones was disciplined for tweeting “omg” and “horrible” in response to Sam’s celebration. Jones later apologized for his tweets after the team announced that he would be fined and temporarily excused from team activities.
Fox News appeared to side with Jones. The May 12 edition of Fox & Friends discussed Jones’ tweet and compared the story to former NFL player Tim Tebow, suggesting Tebow was “mocked” for being a Christian while Michael Sam is “praised.” Co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck worried that the NFL’s attempts to curb anti-gay attacks on Sam could “offend” players like Jones and stoked fears that such efforts could lead to a slippery slope toward civility:
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