As if I Needed Another Reason to Dislike Howard Stern.
I’ve discovered that in addition to being a sexist, racist pig, Howard Stern has been exploiting a developmentally disabled man on his show for many years now The man, Gary Loudermilk, has Down Syndrome, and is known as “Gary the Retard” to Stern and his listeners.
He is frequently antagonized by Artie Lange, who often merely has to say “RETARD!” to elicit an angry tirade from Gary. On August 12, 1998 he was scheduled to appear on the show but got lost at the airport. A listener who worked at the airport eventually found him and called the show. In 2003, Gary was a member of the show’s weekly football pool along with Daniel Carver, Gary Dell’Abate’s son Jackson, and a chicken named Sanders. Gary the Retard picked the Seattle Seahawks to win every week. They seem to be the only NFL team he knows. He works at Burgerville, USA and recently claimed to have a girlfriend who was just released from incarceration. It has been indicated that the woman has been taking advantage of his handicap to get money and access to the show.
Right, and the dirtbags on the show just keep right on doing what they do, and letting others do what they do because it hey, it keeps the ratings up. Who cares that a disabled man is being exploited by them and by their listeners with their assistance and consent. And why aren’t any people who live and work near Mr. Loudermilk advocating for him? Wouldn’t they want somebody to do so if it were them or someone in their family in his shoes?
Gary is also frequently tormented by The Retarded Flu. Early in 2005, staff member Sal “the Stockbroker” Governale, pulled a prank phone call on Gary, using an assumed name and informing him that a flu was in his phone line, coming to “get him” and that he would have to repeat the phrase “Shoo, shoo, retarded flu!” in order to keep it away. In doing this, the flu would be weakened. Gary was warned to be careful though - the flu could disguise his voice. Since then, the “retarded flu” prank has been pulled on Gary numerous times, including at live appearances, and he always falls for it, chanting “Shoo, shoo, retarded flu!”.
Stern, everybody associated with his show, and the listeners who enjoy what he peddles are sick, twisted freaks. Exploiting people with disabilities is disgusting and indefensible. That this has been allowed to go on for so long astounds me, though considering what I know of the history of disability rights it really shouldn’t…
