Hank Williams, Jr.: ESPN Had No Choice but to Dump Controversial Singer

Are you ready for some... unemployment?

ESPN has dumped Hank Williams, Jr., whose voice has been a staple of Monday Night Football for nearly 30 years, for his controversial comments about President Obama earlier this week.

The network released a brief statement on Thursday:

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"We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams, Jr. We appreciate his contributions over the past years. The success of Monday Night Football has always been about the games and that will continue."

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The writing was on the wall for Williams after he made comments comparing the President of the United States to Adolf Hitler.

ESPN decided to pull his opening before Monday night's game between the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and you could sense that Williams did not have much of a future with the network.

Williams is obviously unhappy with the decision and released a statement on his personal website:

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“After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision. By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE.  It’s been a great run.”

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It is clear Williams does not understand the First Amendment. If he did, he would know that he can say whatever he wants. But if the people that pay him stand to lose money and sponsors because of something he says or does, it is perfectly acceptable for them to do what they did.

And, in this case, ESPN had no choice but to remove Williams' opening because of his own stupidity. To compare anyone, much less the President of the United States, to a mass murderer is going to have strong consequences.

The network will likely look for a more contemporary artist to be the next voice of Monday Night Football.

Williams won't be able to cash those fat royalty checks anymore, but now he is free to criticize anyone and anything that he wants.