David Robichaud of WBZ fails to apologize for homophobic statement

[Ian David]

Last week during a Conversation Nation segment I wondered if Bruins fans would accuse the players of being “sissies” if they did not retaliate for a cheap shot against one of their own.

It has been brought to my attention through both Twitter and Facebook that the term “sissy” is perceived as hate speech by some members of our community.

I have been told that the term can be especially hurtful to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender teenagers.

I was not aware of this and want to thank the people who took the time to educate me and other followers of CN.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/david-robi-robichaud/note-to-my-facebook-friends/376198020274#!/pages/Queer-Rising-Boston/357089366144


http://wbztv.com/bios/David.Robichaud.wbztv.9.566627.html


Hat-tip to: http://twitter.com/MichaelsThought/status/11035515222


Seriously?

THIS is what Robi has carefully crafted in place of an actual apology, and nobody else is calling bullshit on it yet?

Nowhere does he say he's sorry or actually apologize. He also puts the blame upon those who were offended, rather than taking responsibility upon himself.

This is not an apology. This is an excuse and a brush-off, at best. It's a further insult at worst.

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David Robichaud on Twitter http://twitter.com/Robiwbz

[HillbillyBob]

1. typical non apology

nt

[Ian David]

2. Not typical. It's one of the worst I've seen in a long time.

Usually they at least say, "I'd like to apologize to anyone who may have been offended. That's the standard Conservative boilerplate non-apology-apology.

This is worse.

This is more like, "Gee, I never knew Sissy had anything to do with Gay. Some of you were offended. Thanks you for your valuable feedback."

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Well, Robi, Joan Crawford woulda killed for those brows of yours. Sissy. n/t

[chelsea0011]

4. "conversation nation" is yet another way to get the RW to spill their hate

This network has gone from the top to the bottom and have slowly been trying to lure the RW crowd. The other day they spent the entire afternoon with a promo about the open mike "gaffe" that could get Biden into hot water. This was the day of the HCR signing and this was their promo. They never hinted at what the gaffe was but we had to tune in to find out. I hadn't been aware of this gaffe was and tuned in to find out what in heaven he could have said. I fell on the floor with laughter when they broadcast it. When you live in the ratings cellar, expect the worst.

[sui generis]

5. Still, I think it would behoove us to grow some thicker skin.

I'm sorry, as much as I dislike the term I dislike even more being associated with people who live to be outraged at the latest re-characterization of a dumb phrase into rampant homophobia.

That's so gay. Yeah I said that.

[Ian David]

6. Perhaps. But he should either apologize or say nothing. n/t

[Toasterlad]

7. I Have No Problem With Sissy In That Context.

However, I agree that he should have offered a real apology, or said nothing. I also certainly understand why people were offended by the original comment.

[sui generis]

8. I love you guys

by the way. :hi:

Agreed, a more manly apology should have been tendered, or nothing at all. :evilgrin:

The best part is I'm perfectly willing to accord sissiness to straight men. Can't tell you the number of people I've had out to my Texas midcentury monstrosity of an old house doing upgrades and repairs who are skeert to go in the crawl space due to spiders and snakes. Okay, so there are spiders, and harmless little garter snakes and I found a dead possum in there once, and it's a little claustrophobic, but I'm not qualified to do gas line work.

Seriously I've had people refuse to go down the rabbit hole and they were most certainly too back-butt fugly to be family.

[Ian David]

9. UPDATE: Demand WBZ Reporter David Robichaud make An On Air Statement

Demand WBZ Reporter David Robichaud make An On Air Statement

Last week during two morning news casts on WBZ TV news reporter David Robichaud was discussing whether or not the Boston Bruins should retaliate for a cheap shot by another team that left one of their players unconscious. Robichaud asked if the Bruins would be “Sissies” if they choose not to retaliate.

The definition of the word Sissy is;

1. A boy or man regarded as effeminate.
2. A person regarded as timid or cowardly.
3. An offensive derogatory term for a boy or man who is considered not to exhibit stereotypical masculine behavior, especially by other boys or men.

In the state of Massachusetts our government was debating an anti bullying bill. There has been an increase in kid on kid violence nation wide. Many Gay men have grown up with the term "Sissy" hurled at them before being bashed. David Robichaud and WBZ news have the privilege of entering our homes every morning. His use of the word "Sissy" to describe grown men on the airwaves, while adults and children watched the program in our homes is a violation of the public trust.

In light of this, we see it as an irresponsible use of the word by this reporter. During a Direct Action last weekend where the LGBTQ community left comments asking for an apology, Robichaud criticized a Gay man for using the word "Queer". He continued to receive comments, emails and phone calls by members of the LGBTQ community across the nation and beyond. Finally on Monday morning Robichaud left a statement in a note addressed to his Facebook friends acknowledging his poor choice of words and that they were offensive.

As he used the word on the air and in doing so came into our homes, we are demanding that he read his Facebook statement on the air during the morning news cast. He failed to do so this morning. Please follow the links below to contact David Robichaud and WBZ to add your voice in demanding an on air reading of this statement by using all of the contact links below.

David Robichaud on Twitter http://twitter.com/robiwbz

on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/note.php?note_id=376198020274&comments

General Contact WBZ News at http://wbztv.com/contact

WBZ Phone number - 617-787-7000

WBZ FaceBook Page - http://www.facebook.com/robi#!/wbztv

WBZ on Twitter - http://twitter.com/wbz

He has now restricted his main page so we can only leave comments to his questions. We should do this as well.

Michael for
Queer Rising Boston

More:
http://ow.ly/1rdq7