OUTRAGE AS RADIO HOST MOCKS LEDGER

There’s been outrage after a US news radio host mocked the death of actor Heath Ledger.

Fox News Radio host John Gibson cruelly ridiculed Ledger’s death and his role in the film Brokeback Mountain during a January 22 John Gibson Show radio broadcast.

During the show, Gibson played an audio clip from the film of Jake Gyllenhaal’s character, Jack, telling Ennis (played by Ledger), “I wish I knew how to quit you.”

Gibson then quipped, “Well, he found out how to quit you.”

Then, after playing another audio clip from the movie of Ledger’s character saying, “We’re dead,” Gibson mockingly said, “We’re dead” and played the clip again.

“Gibson’s remarks are vulgar and disgusting,” said Rashad Robinson, from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

“It’s sickening that Gibson would exploit Heath Ledger’s tragic death to promote such hurtful intolerance. And to do so at a time when family and friends are grieving shows a level of insensitivity that is beyond the pale.”

In addition to his mockery of Ledger’s role in Brokeback Mountain, Gibson called the actor a “weirdo” with “a serious drug problem,” and callously speculated on the reasons Ledger might have committed suicide.

Gibson had previously derided Brokeback Mountain – calling it a “gay agenda movie” on his Fox News TV program in 2006.

GLAAD has called on Americans to contact Fox News and ask “why they continue to provide a platform for John Gibson’s cruel and tasteless comments.”