Howard Stern Defends Ellen, Rosie, Backs Gay Rights
Radio personality Howard Stern said on his radio show on Monday morning that he would call for a boycott of retailer J.C. Penney if it decided to end its relationship with spokeswoman Ellen DeGeneres because she is gay.
A parents activist group has demanded the department store cut its ties with the television talk show host.
"If J.C. Penney fires Ellen DeGeneres, I will call on all my listeners to boycott J.C. Penney and I will do everything I can for Ellen DeGeneres," Stern said.
The company said last week it would keep DeGeneres as its spokesperson.
In a nearly 12 minute radio excerpt, Stern also defended another TV host, Rosie O'Donnell, against comments by fellow talkshow host David Letterman. In his Tuesday night monologue, Letterman compared O'Donnell to a tow truck driver.
"The one time he mentions her is to sort of smack her over the head for being fat and for being a lesbian," Stern said. "You've got to figure a girl her age grew up constantly getting hosed because she was fat and she was a lesbian ... Dave's wondering why she's sensitive to this. She's sensitive to it because ... I mean, the amount of s--- gay people take."
Stern said he spoke to Letterman briefly about the topic when he appeared on Letterman's program. He says Letterman asked him about the flap.
"If she doesn't like you, she's got her reasons," Stern said he told Letterman.
Watch here:
