Olbermann Suspended From ESPN Over Offensive Penn State Remarks

Keith Olbermann has been suspended from ESPN for a week after he made offensive statements about Penn State and THON, the sports network announced Tuesday.

“We are aware of the exchange Keith Olbermann had on Twitter last night regarding Penn State,” ESPN said Tuesday. “It was completely inappropriate and does not reflect the views of ESPN.”

The 2015 Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, held from Friday, Feb. 20, through Sunday, Feb. 22, raised $13,026,653.23 for the fight against pediatric cancer.

THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, has been supporting the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital since 1977, and since then has raised $127 million in the fight against pediatric cancer.

Olbermann apparently wasn’t impressed.

It all seems to have started when a proud Penn Stater Tweeted “We Are!,”Onward State says, with a link to a Daily Collegian article about THON. Olbermann responded to her with “...Pitiful.”

The initial Tweet seems to have been taken down, but Penn State fans didn’t let the issue rest. And Olbermann just kept engaging.

Olbermann will not host his show for the rest of the week, ESPN said. He will return Monday, March 2.

“The annual tradition of THON and the efforts of the students of Penn State to fight pediatric cancer should be applauded,” ESPN said.

Olbermann apologized himself Tuesday morning.

Tell us: Do you think Keith Olbermann’s punishment was harsh enough? Was it too harsh? Let us know in the comments below.

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