Radio hosts fired after mocking player with disability

Three radio hosts for 790 The Zone in Atlanta were fired on Monday after mocking former New Orleans Saints safety, Steve Gleason. Gleason is currently fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. In a statement on the station’s website, Rick Mack, the senior vice president and general manager of the station said, “We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on “Mayhem In The AM” on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS. We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment”

The radio hosts imitated Gleason by using a robotic voice to answer questions in a simulated interview. Gleason uses a robotic voice controlled with his eyes to communicate. The hosts then used knock knock jokes in the interview and had the host portraying Gleason wonder if he would be alive on Thursday.