Former Rogers Sportsnet anchor Damian Goddard claims he was wrongfully terminated for tweeting his support for “true marriage” last month and is taking his case against Rogers to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Goddard, who hosted the show Connected, entered the conversation on gay marriage by echoing the sentiments of hockey agent Todd Reynolds, who had criticized the Rangers’ Sean Avery after Avery appeared in advertisements supporting gay marriage.
“I completely and wholeheartedly support Todd Reynolds and his support for the traditional and TRUE meaning of marriage,” Goddard tweeted.
Sportsnet fired Goddard soon after, though it didn’t specify the reasons for his termination.
“Mr. Goddard was a freelance contractor and in recent weeks it had become clear that he is not the right fit for our organization,” said Sportsnet spokesman Dave Rashford in a statement.
Goddard is taking issue with that characterization.
“While Rogers has argued that I was not the right fit for the organization, the truth of the matter is that just a week before my dismissal I was given a ringing endorsement for the job I had done up to that point,” Goddard told LifeSiteNews. “Also, a mere hours after I had tweeted in defense of marriage on May 10th, I was called in to work for a meeting. While I was unable to make it in for the meeting, as I was looking after my 4 and 2 year old kids, I was promptly terminated from my position as a Rogers Sportsnet anchor 24 hours after my initial tweet.”
Goddard said he will be releasing an official statement today.