Teacher On Leave After Saying Rush Limbaugh's Cancer Is 'Awesome'

MILWAUKEE, WI — A teacher in the Milwaukee Public School system has been put on leave after he said he hopes conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh "dies a painful death from cancer."

According to a USA Today report, Milwaukee High School of the Arts English teacher Travis Sarandos was the author of the tweet.

The Milwaukee Public School District disavowed Sarandos' comments, saying they did not represent the attitude of the district. Shortly after the news of Sarandos' tweet was made public, he was put on leave. Fellow conservative talk show host Mark Belling wrote an article about the tweet, blasting the teacher for his insensitivity. Belling's screenshot of the tweet can be found here.

According to the report, Sarandos additionally wrote: "Limbaugh absolutely should have to suffer from cancer. it's awesome that he's dying, and hopefully it is as quick as it is painful."

The tweet came shortly after Limbaugh told his radio listeners that he is suffering from advanced lung cancer. Limbaugh was subsequently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom onTuesday night during President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address.

"Here tonight is a special man beloved by millions of Americans, who just received a stage 4 advanced cancer diagnosis," the president said. "This is not good news. But what is good news is that he is the greatest fighter and winner that you will ever meet. Rush Limbaugh, thank you for your decades of tireless devotion to our country."

According to a previous Patch report, Limbaugh, who broadcasts from Palm Beach, said he realized something was wrong during the weekend of his 69th birthday on Jan. 12. He said his diagnosis was confirmed by two medical institutions Jan. 20.

"I wish I didn't have to tell you this, and I thought about not telling anybody. I thought about trying to do this without anybody knowing, 'cause I don't like making things about me," Limbaugh said Monday. "But, there are going to be days that I'm not gonna be able to be here because I'm undergoing treatment or I'm reacting to treatment, and I know that that would inspire all kinds of curiosity with people wondering what's going on."

Paul Scicchitano, Patch Staff contributed to this report.