Salem Radio Network air talent Mike Gallagher was engaged in “light-hearted banter” with Fox News’s Chris Wallace when a discussion of Gallagher’s weight veered off course to include remarks about singer Kelly Clarkson.
SRN believes that Media Matters took the remarks out of context and its report that Gallagher and Wallace had fat-shamed Clarkson went mainstream in on time at all.
In the ill-fated exchange, Gallagher mentioned that he was being “fat-shamed” by Wallace and compared that to people fat-shaming Clarkson.
Rather than try to clarify and justify the exchange, Gallagher simply issued an on-air apology as well as posting on online.
On his website, Gallagher wrote, “Tubby Mike is the last person in the world who should bring up anyone’s weight. I couldn’t possibly feel any worse than I do for making an observation that led to the conclusion that I “fat-shamed” this talented and classy entertainer. It was a really stupid thing for me to do. – Mike”
Salem’s Tom Tradup said, “I’ve been in this business for decades, and I’ve never heard a nationally syndicated talk radio host speak from the heart and offer a sincere, on-air apology like the one Mike Gallagher broadcast today. Mike is my friend and colleague… I know he meant no harm in his banter with Chris Wallace. But it says a lot about Mike Gallagher as a man and as a broadcaster that he wanted to atone for any possible hurt feelings their comments might have generated among his audience or, specifically, Kelly Clarkson herself.”
RBR+TVBR observation: Smart. Whether or not Gallagher can win a debate on this is beside the point. And the fact of the matter is that sooner or later, anybody who has to fill three hours of air time a day with spontaneous talk is going to say something sometime that will offend somebody somewhere.
Political operatives know that their candidates are prone to the same thing.
They rely on the news cycle. It flies along at a breakneck pace, and in no time at all yesterday’s gaffe is buried under the din created by plenty of fresher ones from other sources.
If Gallagher tries to explain himself, all he does is extend his time in the unwanted spotlight.
Best to apologize and move on. Well played, Mr. Gallagher.
