Comments on: Dana Jacobson suspended

by: Tank

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:07:56 +0000

Personally, I agree that mocking a young death is generally more offensive, distasteful, classless - pick your adjective - than a drunken tirade. Anyone offended by Dana Jacobsen can write it off as a product of too much to drink; no similar excuse would seem to exist for the radio guys.

by: Cliffy

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:53:12 +0000

I’m curious for feedback on a couple of guys on a morning radio show - during their show - making fun of Heath Ledger’s recent passing. I personally find that *far* more offensive than Jacobson getting lit and blue at a roast. If I’m alone in that regard, that’s fine - but someone tell me why that’s okay and what Jacobson did is so much worse? Is it the inclusion of F-bombs?

If its the subject matter, then I have to say as a lifelong Catholic, I’m far less offended when someone badmouths Jesus than I am when someone makes light of someone’s death (accidental or suicide - but especially if its suicide). They didn’t cuss, but what they said - in my view - is *far* more offensive, and *far* more worthy of reprimand/consequence/moral outrage.

by: Gonzo

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 06:22:33 +0000

IMO, If she’s going to be suspended (due to brand image, or whatever), it should be for any part of the rant, not just because of the Jesus comment.

by: Tank

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 03:36:43 +0000

Disingenuous? I don’t really see what you mean. I understand the case for taking action against the entire drunken tirade, but I also think that there has to be some leeway given the venue for less-than-polite comments. One can legitimately debate the issue, but the gratuitous Jesus comment seems to be an easy call - unrelated to the subject at hand and highly offensive to millions of people. Touchdown Jesus invites ridicule, but Disney isn’t paying her to publicly insult the deity of many if not most of its customers.

by: Jakes

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:45:48 +0000

It’s not about whether it was offensive or not, per se. It’s about the fact that it was an official ESPN event, and as an ESPN employee she represents the company while she’s there.

You can’t take the podium at a company event shithammered and clutching a handle of vodka, swig out of said handle while you’re on the podium, then go on a drunken rant that includes F bombs, not to mention derogitory F boms about deities, and then have to be dragged off of said podium…and not expect to be disciplined.

Not to mention, as Tank accurately points out, the issue with parent company and its brand image.

She’s lucky she didn’t get fired.

And FWIW, I work with someone who knows her, and says there was no way there was offense intended. Doesn’t matter.

by: Cliffy

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 09:27:44 +0000

If I’m in the car, I generally listen to Boston sportstalk radio, WEEI - and their morning show is “Dennis & Callahan”. They’ve been riding Jacobson for a couple of days and won’t let the story die. It’s annoying. Friday morning, they were talking about what to watch on TV this weekend - as it’s seen as a dead sports weekend to many. I forget the exact words, but one of them commented that he’d probably do a Heath Ledger weekend, just sit back and take a bunch of pills. The other commented that he needed to make sure he was morose and acting like a tortured soul, or something like that. Also, to make sure he was naked before starting.

To me, that is *far* more offensive than what one co-worker says to other co-workers while drunk at a celebrity roast. Making light of a young man’s death - be it accidental or suicide - is profane. It seems exceedingly ironic to me that they then proceeded to make fun of Jacobson and her incident (which is fair game, btw… if you do or say something stupid while drunk, to me, *that* is the consequence: getting ribbed by others for it). So they saying how inappropriate Jacobson’s words were… after making fun of a 28-yr-old’s unfortunate passing.

I guess I just have a skewed view of the world… it must be me.

by: Gonzo

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:56:17 +0000

But that’s my point, Tank - would the other comments justified a suspension in your eyes? You are correct - Disney is perceived as family friendly; so why would the other comments not offend? Do family friendly people usually insult thousands of active students and alumni of a university, while completely hammered? (last time I checked, being wasted is not a family friendly activity. Unless your the Osbournes, I guess).

It’s disingenous, IMO, to say that Disney would have to suspend for the last comment, and not the other comments.

by: Tank

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:10:20 +0000

Well, I think insulting a school is less likely to get people riled up than insulting the deity of perhaps a quarter of humanity (whether it is your deity of choice or not). It seems a bit off topic, and if your company’s most valuable asset is a brand perceived as family friendly and wholesome, you really can’t have high profile employees spouting off like that. So administering a nominal punishment then just getting on with life seems like a reasonably pragmatic response.

I agree with Cliffy that in situations like this there does tend to be a piling on of moral preeners (as seems to be the case in the world of golf of late), but thats all the more reason to deal with it quickly and cleanly and let it be forgotten.

by: Cliffy

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:01:33 +0000

I understand why Disney did what they did, and I suppose they could’ve really overreacted to the situation like some of Jacobson’s media peers seem to have - but I still think it needs to be seen in context. In short, to me, the specific language doesn’t really bother me that much… but the apparent scene of that, combined with her clearly inebriated demeanor is reason for an apology to be given. But I guess I think it shoud’ve ended there. Getting suspended a week seems an unnecessary nod to the PC police - but again, I suppose they could’ve reacted with far more.

And if folks were that offended or upset over her behavior, how come none of her friends came to get her off stage before she was “done”? Or what that have created a bigger scene and/or made it worse?

by: Gonzo

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:33:26 +0000

So F*** Jesus is in poor taste, but F*** Notre Dame and F*** Touchdown Jesus isn’t? You’d be OK with your employee making THOSE comments?

Besides, as a Jew she has every right to say F*** Jesus.

:-)