Satellite Radio Shock Jocks Apologize

by Jordan Yerman | May 11, 2007 at 12:36 pm

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This article raised my regulatory antennae: for now, satellite radio is unregluated by the FCC, and there is no doubt a huge desire by the two major companies (XM and Sirius, in the midst of merger plans) to keep it that way. It is in both companies' interests to stay beneath regulatory radar in order to prevent terrestrial regulatory bodies form deciding to extend their reach. The telling phrase is "... apologize to the public officials..." and not "... apologize to the public".

XM Satellite Radio shock jocks Opie and Anthony apologized Friday for airing a homeless man's crude comments that he'd like to have sex with Condoleezza Rice, Laura Bush and Queen Elizabeth.

The remarks were made on their show Wednesday by a guest the duo call Homeless Charlie. As the name of each woman came up, the guest said he would like to have sex with her -- using language not fit for print.

Opie and Anthony laughed as they imagined Rice's "horror" while describing a violent sexual encounter in which Rice is punched in the face.

Washington-based XM condemned the remarks.

"We deplore the comments made on Wednesday's 'Opie & Anthony Show,' " XM spokesman Nathaniel Brown told The Associated Press on Friday. He would not say whether XM planned to take disciplinary action.

Opie and Anthony, whose full names are Anthony Cumia and Greg "Opie" Hughes, apologized to listeners on Friday's show.

"We apologize to the public officials for comments that we made on our XM show on May 9th. We take very seriously the responsibility that comes with our creative freedom and regret any offense that this segment has caused," they said.