Thomas Roberts Decision to Leave CNN Has Nothing to do with Him Being Gay 38521

Did you know CNN has an openly gay anchor? No, not Cooper, silly, but Thomas Roberts. Well, he was CNN’s openly gay anchor (CNN Headline News, at least), until he came out (at least in his most public iteration), and then lost his show in September. He’s since stayed on at the network, probably letting his contract run out as he toils behind the scenes. But as of Friday, he ended his 5-year tenure.

And as sad as we are to see him go – frustrated that we have to watch Fox News for our Shep Smith and Bill Hemmer dosage – it’s even more upsetting to recount these comments he gave in an interview about coming out:

“I had some concerns, but not enough to stop me from doing it,??? Roberts said. ???There was some trepidation??? about making yourself vulnerable to a group of journalists with questions, to experience being on the other side, being in the hot seat, to come up with thoughtful, truthful answers in the way that I wanted???. It’s the largest step I’ve taken to be more active in the organization, and to interact with other gay journalists???.

???No one advised me against doing it. I have no regrets, but I have some concerns about some of the reporting, certain correlations that are being drawn.???

Those “correlations,” of course, being that his coming out on a national stage led to his firing. Which is entirely outrageous. At the hands of CNN prez Jon Klein, Roberts’ firing had more to do with his not being a hot, young woman.