# The bitter irony that is the Hank Williams, Jr kerfluffle **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624 "2011-10-04T22:27:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/1 "2011-10-04T22:27:01Z")
So. [Hank Williams, Jr. did what he did and said what he said](http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/04/showbiz/williams-football/index.html?hpt=hp_t2) and ESPN pulled the use of his song from the opening moments of last Monday’s MNF broadcast. ESPN is owned by The Disney Company. Oh, the irony so very bitter. Why? Because [Walt Disney had quite the rep as a Jew-Hater.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1623/was-walt-disney-a-fascist). The clips that were caught by Jewish watchdog groups were removed reluctantly but not all were caught. Becoming enamored of the NAZI movement in North America doesn’t bode well either. So, ESPN/ Disney stepped in to chastise someone who connected the POTUS with Adolph Hitler. Really? Trying to make up for The Big Guy’s hatred of Jews, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/2 "2011-10-04T22:34:07Z")
Walt Disney’s been dead for 45 years. I hardly think anybody’s trying to “make up” for anything he did at this point, nor do I think anyone at the company would think to make the connection at this late date (or to care one way or the other if they did). ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/3 "2011-10-04T22:41:06Z")
Now that is quite a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/4 "2011-10-04T22:46:51Z")
What did they do for the MNF intro? I wish they’d pull that _AYRFSF_ song completely just because that song is so tired. _Heavy Action_ never gets tired though. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/5 "2011-10-05T00:41:14Z")
My reaction is that it speaks volumes about how much airtime every network has to fill that Williams’ political views would even get on the air in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/6 "2011-10-05T14:50:22Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > url=“[Was Walt Disney a fascist? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1623/was-walt-disney-a-fascist)”]Walt Disney had quite the rep as a Jew-Hater.. That column doesn’t seem to say what you claim it’s saying. It says that Jewish stereotypes appeared in some Disney films, but then a lot of ethnic stereotypes appeared in Disney films – it was kind of standard procedure for the times. The column explicitly states that “no one can specifically attribute bias to Disney himself”. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/7 "2011-10-05T14:51:46Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > I wish they’d pull that _AYRFSF_ song completely just because that song is so tired. That’s definitely the best part of this litle conflagration. I hope the song is gone for good and that NBC stops using that song by Faith Hill or whichever one that is before its Sunday night game. Total waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/8 "2011-10-05T15:02:39Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Trying to make up for The Big Guy’s hatred of Jews, I’d say. That makes so little sense that it’s ridiculous. Ever heard of a guy named Michael Eisner? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/9 "2011-10-05T15:04:19Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Trying to make up for The Big Guy’s hatred of Jews, I’d say. What about his endless appetite for the flesh of Cuban children? ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/10 "2011-10-05T16:06:12Z")
I’m Jewish. I still love Walt’s rides and movies. I’ve never given a shit about Hank Williams, Jr. and don’t plan to start giving shits now. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/11 "2011-10-05T16:27:49Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > What about his endless appetite for the flesh of Cuban children? This is what I came in to post! It’s such a tragedy that this aspect of Disney’s evil continues to be ignored by the lamestream media. Won’t someone think of the children? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/12 "2011-10-05T16:40:20Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > What about his endless appetite for the flesh of Cuban children? Wait, what? I can’t buy a Cuban cigar, yet he’s able to get a hold of their young?😕 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/13 "2011-10-05T17:08:50Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Wait, what? I can’t buy a Cuban cigar, yet he’s able to get a hold of their young?😕 He has special channels. You’ve heard of the Disney Channel? Well, it isn’t quite what you think… ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/14 "2011-10-05T18:03:50Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > That’s definitely the best part of this litle conflagration. I hope the song is gone for good and that NBC stops using that song by Faith Hill or whichever one that is before its Sunday night game. Total waste of time. But without Hank’s song, how will I know if I am or am not adequately prepared for some football? ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/15 "2011-10-05T18:25:02Z")
ABC never should have dropped the “Dun dun dun duuuunnn” music from MNF in the first place. They should bring that back, and NBC should drop Faith Hill. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/16 "2011-10-05T18:33:52Z")
Wait, Obama is Jewish now? I thought he was Irish. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/17 "2011-10-05T18:45:52Z")
ah-ha! i knew it! stephen colbert is a member of the sdmb. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/18 "2011-10-05T18:52:25Z")
Since I wrote the column in question, I’ll respond: > [@cjepson](#): > > That column doesn’t seem to say what you claim it’s saying. It says that Jewish stereotypes appeared in some Disney films, but then a lot of ethnic stereotypes appeared in Disney films – it was kind of standard procedure for the times. The column explicitly states that “no one can specifically attribute bias to Disney himself”. cjepson has it correct. It’s a huge step to jump from “Jewish stereotypes existed in some Disney films” to “Walt Disney had quite the rep as a Jew-Hater.” He had no such reputation except for those who look at Disney’s earlier films through modern glasses. And, although he was stated to have attended a meeting of the German American Bund, this does not even hint that he was “enamored” of the NAZI movement. As I state in my article, it was more likely because Disney was looking towards distribution of his films in Germany. If you’re looking for irony, though, it’s best found in the possibility reported by long time Disney animator Ward Kimball that Gunther Lessing, Disney’s lawyer who supposedly got him interested in the Bund … was himself Jewish! And now you know … the rest of the story. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/19 "2011-10-05T19:08:30Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Walt Disney’s been dead for 45 years. I hardly think anybody’s trying to “make up” for anything he did at this point, nor do I think anyone at the company would think to make the connection at this late date (or to care one way or the other if they did). Who cares! This gives us all a chance to picture Disney characters in Nazi uniforms! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624/20 "2011-10-05T19:58:11Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > That makes so little sense that it’s ridiculous. Ever heard of a guy named Michael Eisner? Eisner hates Jews? Who knew? 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bitter-irony-that-is-the-hank-williams-jr-kerfluffle/598624.md?page=2)