Al Roker Should Be Fired!

Letter I wrote to the President of NBC News, and posted on Fat Al’s website on his message board.

Dear Mr. Capus:

As someone who suffers from adult onset epilepsy I cannot tell you how sickened I am that you essentially allowed Al Roker to make jokes about epilepsy, a very serious medical condition. I expected more of your news organization.

There is nothing, let me repeat that, NOTHING funny at all EVER about someone having an epileptic seizure. An epileptic can literally DIE from a seizure and you’re letting your employees (Matt included) make on air jokes and laugh about it?

Even during Al’s half-assed apology there were people laughing in the background, Al was smirking and Matt looked amused!!! Al, Matt and people like them make it harder for epileptics like myself to live normally.

One of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with is the complete and utter shame and embarrassment I’ve felt when I’ve been been unfortunate enough to suffer a seizure in front of someone. Do you know how hard it is for people like me to have to face people once this happens? No, you obviously do not. People like Al Roker who joke about this very serious medical condition make it all that much harder. They help to perpetuate the age old stigma attached to epileptics.

We’re not funny, we’re not seizing to amuse you or to provide you with jokes in the morning. We have no control. Imagine for just one moment what that would feel like.  To not to have any control over your own mind or your body.  It’s terrifying not funny.  Imagine what it would be like to try and go on about your life never knowing when suddenly your brain isn’t going to cooperate anymore and you fall to the ground wherever you may be while your blood boils, your electrons misfire, your muscles contract and release, you lose your bladder and sometimes your bowel functions.  Imagine just for one split second having to endure this, day after day, week after week.  Does that sound amusing to you?

Now, I’m no fan of Don Imus but he was fired over a pot shot about black women’s hair, AL was quite vocal in his displeasure and helped lead the brigade to get Imus fired.  Yet Al is able to continue on his merry way after making fun of millions of people like me who have to suffer from this every day? Where’s the justice in that?

Al should be fired and Matt should be suspended for 2-weeks for egging him on and laughing like a little boy. I will NEVER watch The Today Show again.   I hope the millions of epileptics like myself boycott your entire station.

Sincerely,