It looks like Hank Williams Jr. is so lonesome he could cry after comparing President Obama to Adolf Hitler on Fox & Friends this week. The country superstar and ESPN are going their separate ways, putting an end to his decades-long spot as Monday Night Football’s opening act.
It was unclear who exactly made the decision. ESPN announced that he was leaving, but left it ambiguous. “We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams, Jr,” the network said in a statement. “We appreciate his contributions over the past years. The success of Monday Night Football has always been about the games and that will continue.”
Williams, on his own website, said that he had quit in protest of ESPN’s decision to remove him from this week’s game as punishment for his off-the-reservation FOX appearance.
“After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision,” he wrote in a blog post. “By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It’s been a great run.”
Williams’ defiant tone was a departure from his somewhat more contrite tone in recent days. He posted an awkwardly worded explanation for his behavior on Wednesday in which he apologized for “offending” anyone, but stood by the sentiment he expressed on Fox & Friends when he compared Obama and John Boehner golfing to “Hitler playing golf with Benjamin Netanyahu”:
I have always been very passionate about Politics and Sports and this time it got the Best or Worst of me. The thought of the Leaders of both Parties Jukin and High Fiven on a Golf course, while so many Families are Struggling to get by simply made me Boil over and make a Dumb statement and I am very Sorry if it Offended anyone. I would like to Thank all my supporters. This was Not written by some Publicist.
