If there is anything to learn from Keith Olbermann’s latest suspension, it’s that no one ever wins a Twitter fight.
A couple of nights ago, a Twitter user asked Olbermann what he thought about Penn State students’ efforts to raise money “to support children and their families fighting pediatric cancer at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.”
Olbermann, who has been very critical of the university in the past, replied with one word.
@lisaadeleon …Pitiful
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 23, 2015
Of course, this did nothing but rile up a bunch of people. Unfortunately, Olbermann kept on digging himself into a deeper hole as he replied to many of the comments that he received regarding his Penn State opinions on Twitter.
.@dave_seidel No, Son. I said PSU students were pitiful. Had nothing to do with fundraising #AlsoPSUReadingComprehensionAppearsToBeWeak
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 23, 2015
.@dave_seidel her tweet reads "we are…" I finished her sentence "…pitiful." At this rate your diploma won't be recognized, Moron
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 23, 2015
@codykon inability? It's a choice. You're Penn State. End of discussion.
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 23, 2015
@EricOwensFS Don't make shit up, Sonny. You'll wind up running Penn State.
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 24, 2015
.@ColinBenner Good for you. Doesn't change the school's reputation. Check back next century.
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 24, 2015
I'd like to thank the students and alums of Penn State for proving my point about the mediocrity of their education and ethics.
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 24, 2015
As one could imagine, the whole mess didn’t go over well with Olbermann’s bosses at ESPN as the sight of an employee childishly attacking a school’s supporters over charity work looks incredibly awful. The network has suspended him for the rest of the week.
We are aware of the exchange Keith Olbermann had on Twitter last night regarding Penn State. It was completely inappropriate and does not reflect the views of ESPN. We have discussed it with Keith, who recognizes he was wrong. ESPN and Keith have agreed that he will not host his show for the remainder of this week and will return on Monday. The annual tradition of THON and the efforts of the students of Penn State to fight pediatric cancer should be applauded.
Olbermann also offered his own apology on the platform that facilitated this whole affair.
I apologize for the PSU tweets. I was stupid and childish and way less mature than the students there who did such a great fundraising job.
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 24, 2015
