Scott Torgeson, a radio show host in Columbus, OH, was allegedly fired for making an insulting tweet about former NFL star and current ESPN analyst Desmond Howard. From Radio Ink Magazine:
Over a week ago Torgeson tweeted, “I wish Desmond Howard would get fired or die so I can watch Gameday again.” Today he was officially fired by the station.
Scott Torgeson, Image source: Radio Ink Magazine
Kevin Eckstein, a 38 year old computer technician at Cinema School, in New York City, was fired after inappropriate Facebook chats with a fake account pretending to be a 16 year old girl. Per the Daily Mail:
The students at New York’s Cinema School, in the Bronx, had a sense that Kevin Eckstein, 38, was ‘creepy’ so set out to try and prove it by setting up the profile for ‘Sarah Archer’…
…Eckstein allegedly fell for it and soon was telling the teen she was cute, invited her to visit him at the school and asked her on dinner dates, according to the New York Post…
…He was sacked on August 12. According to his LinkedIn profile he was an employee there for the last three years.
Kevin Eckstein, source DailyMail from LinkedIn
Brian Stropolo, a replacement NFL referee, was allegedly pulled from his refereeing job after NFL officials discovered pictures of him on Facebook with New Orleans Saints apparel on, due to concerns about the potential for a biased officiating job. Per ESPN:
Stropolo, who is from New Orleans area and lists himself on Facebook as an NFL side judge, posted pictures of himself in Saints gear tailgating at an Aug. 25 preseason game. Stropolo did not work the game against the Texans, but he was assigned to Sunday’s game in Carolina. There were several photos of Stropolo in Saints gear on his Facebook page.
Stropolo worked the Week 1 opener between the Cowboys and Giants and posted on Sept. 5: “Thanks to everyone for all the support. The crew did a great job tonight. Next stop September 16th at Carolina vs the Saints.”
Stropolo’s status update drew 73 “likes” and comments such as “Hey, now be nice with those yellow flags for our Saints!!” and “That’s awesome you get to be an official for a Saints game! I didn’t think they would let you since your (sic) from Louisiana.”
Brian Stropolo, source: Facebook.com, via SI.com
Fourteen El Monte lifeguards were fired for creating a video of themselves in a spoof of the popular video “Gangnam Style,” and then posting it on YouTube. The case is generating a lot of interest, especially with those who feel that the firings were too harsh. Per the Pasadena Star News:
“In late August, the lifeguards shot a spoof of the Korean pop sensation “Gangnam Style” music video in their lifeguard uniforms and subsequently posted on Youtube, now with more than a million views.
The city fired the “at-will” seasonal and part-time employees for violating their contract, which stipulates that they cannot “use any city property for his/her own private benefit,” according to a statement released last week.”
Anya Cintron Stern, a 31 year old lawyer, was allegedly fired for posting a picture of her client’s underwear on Facebook. Ms. Stern, representing Fermin Recalde, got the picture while her client’s clothing was being inspected during a trial. In addition, the trial was declared a mistrial. Per the Miami Herald:
Recalde’s family brought him a bag of fresh clothes to wear during trial. When Miami-Dade corrections officers lifted up the pieces for a routine inspection, Recalde’s public defender Anya Cintron Stern snapped a photo of Recalde’s briefs with her cellphone, witnesses said.
While on a break, the 31-year-old lawyer posted the photo on her personal Facebook page with a caption suggesting the client’s family believed the underwear was “proper attire for trial.”
Although her Facebook page is private and can only be viewed by her friends, somebody who saw the posting notified Miami-Dade Judge Leon Firtel, who declared a mistrial.
And Cintron Stern was immediately fired, according to Miami-Dade Public Defender Carlos Martinez, whose office represents clients who cannot afford a private attorney…
…Also of concern to her superiors: an earlier post on her Facebook that appeared to call into question the client’s innocence.”
Blake Marsh, a video game tester at Eidos Montreal, was fired for making a Facebook post encouraging an assassination attempt on a Quebec politician. Per GamePolitics.com:
“Following a failed assassination attempt by suspect Richard Bain on the newly-elected Quebec premier-designate Pauline Marois that saw one person killed and another severely injured, Marsh decided to make light of the crime:
“You just can’t find good assassins these days,” he wrote on Facebook, later adding “I give this b**** a month before someone with better aims comes forth and does what must be done.”"
Ty Ellis, an assistant volleyball coach at Winter Haven High School in Winter Haven, FL, was allegedly fired for posting a “Tribute to Trayvon Martin” team image on an unofficial team page on Facebook. Per the Ledger:
In the photo, team members posed with their hoodies on. Underneath the photo was written: “WHHS LBDVT Stands Up For All Innocent Kids … A Tibute to Trayvon Martin!!!!!!” The words “Winter Haven Senior High School” were written underneath.The unauthorized page, its content and other smaller issues led to Ellis’ firing and Wooten’s reprimand
