ESPN, and parent company ABC/Disney, announced Monday it is cutting ties with country legend Hank Williams, Jr. and will no longer use his song to open "Monday Night Football" broadcasts after the singer made remarks comparing President Obama to Hitler last Monday. The song, "All My Rowdy Firends Are Here on Monday Night," has been used to open all MNF broadcasts on ABC and ESPN since 1991. The song is actually a revamped version of Williams' 1984 hit, "All My Rowdy Firends Are Coming Over Tonight."
Both ESPN and Williams released statements indicating it was their decision to end the relationship, ESPN for obvious reasons and Williams because his First Ammendment Rights had been violated. Whoever's decision the split was, a two-decade partnership is over and ESPN has not yet said what they would do to replace the opening.
Country vocalist Hank Williams, Jr. has been terminated by ESPN following specific caustic remarks the singer made on Fox News. Williams' comments compared President Obama to Hitler. At first defiant, the singer claimed his First Amendment rights had been dishonored. Williams apologized for the comments later, but ESPN isn't backing down. Hank Williams, Jr. permanently suspended from Monday Night Football. The cable network has used Williams song Are You Ready to open its Monday Night Football broadcasts for the past 20 years. But after Williams made caustic remarks about the nations chief executive, ESPN pulled the intro from its broadcast Monday evening. The network said it was very disappointed with the singers remarks.
