Last week, WWL sports talk host, Seth Dunlap took a leave of absence after being the target of a homophobic comment sent from the radio station’s verified Twitter account. Recently, Dunlap released a statement explaining the decision to pause his weeknight show on the Entercom owned New Orleans radio station.
“I never wanted to be ‘That Gay Sportscaster.’ I’ve only ever wanted to be an exceptional sports broadcaster who happens to be gay,” Dunlap wrote. “While I’ve been open about my sexuality in my personal life since my early-twenties, it’s not something that I discuss on the air, nor in my columns or blogs. The focus has always been on doing my job and doing it well. I feel like that focus has been unceremoniously ripped away from me.”
Dunlap hosts The Last Lap on WWL in New Orleans, Monday – Friday from 8 – 11pm, in addition to the Saints pregame show on their radio network. The homophobic tweet was posted just days after the radio host shared that he’s openly gay. Hours after the tweet was posted last Tuesday, Dunlap hosted his weeknight show, but he’s been on a leave of absence since.
“Many people had asked why I chose to take a leave of absence from my duties on-air, believing that I was ‘letting bigotry win.’ This isn’t about winning or losing to me. Rather, it is a painful step that I had to take to step away from a job that I love for my emotional and mental well-being,” Dunlap explained.
“While I have suffered greatly, this attack was not just about me. While I may have been the one directly and publicly shamed with the use of an unacceptable slur disseminated on social media, the target was really the entire LGBTQ+ community. That community, my community, is subjected to that sort of vile language and hate on a daily basis. Look inside the comments, replies, or DM’s to any openly LGBTQ+ person and you’ll easily find similar disgusting, foul attacks. This incident just peeled back the curtain a bit for people to see the ugliness that surrounds us.
“I truly believe this targeted attack was, in part, the result of deteriorating civil discourse in our country. Powerful men and women have decided to make hate, bigotry, and divisiveness platforms for their advancement in public life. It’s apparent that far too many people have forgotten the ugly lessons of the past, and this growing divide threatens to shatter the very foundations of an equal and welcoming society.”
Entercom has been supportive of Dunlap, internally expressing disgust over the incident and vowing to take all possible steps toward finding who sent the homophobic tweet.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.
