Rick Rolls

Just for the hell of it, I figured I'd go ahead and relay this:

"OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM RICK SANCHEZ

On October 4th, I had a very good conversation with Jon Stewart, and I had the opportunity to apologize for my inartful comments from last week. I sincerely extend this apology to anyone else whom I may have offended.

As Jon was kind enough to note in his show Monday night, I am very much opposed to hate and intolerance, in any form, and I have frequently spoken out against prejudice. Despite what my tired and mangled words may have implied, they were never intended to suggest any sort of narrow-mindedness and should never have been made.

In the aftermath of these comments, CNN and I have decided to part ways. However, I want to go on record to say that I have nothing but the highest regard for CNN and for my six wonderful years with them. I appreciate every opportunity that they have given me, and it has been a wonderful experience working for them. I have tremendous respect for everyone there, and I know that they feel the same about me. There are no hard feelings – just excitement about a new future of opportunities.

I look forward to my next step with great anticipation. In the meantime, I will continue to promote my book, 'Conventional Idiocy,' in the hopes of broadening the discussion to get a better understanding between all Americans, regardless of race, creed or religion."

Not badly stated, overall. The interesting thing is that he used the word "inartful" to describe the comments that got him canned; it's the same word Rick's wife, Suzanne, used on Facebook in defending her husband. I described Sanchez's statements with a variation of the same term -- saying that he spoke "artlessly." For the record, I doubt very seriously that either of them, or both of them in conjunction, cribbed that phrase after reading my piece. In fact, I think Sanchez's wife's Facebook message was actually posted before my column was printed here and at the Huffington Post. With that in mind, there's one thing I can say for sure: I hadn't read that message or had any contact with either Rick or Suzanne before I wrote and published my piece. Just wanted to make that clear.

In fact, I've barely spoken to Rick since that last encounter with him, the one I described at the beginning of my piece.

Artless, however, seems like the most fitting description of Sanchez's way with words, regardless.

(Update: For what it's worth, which is pretty much nothing, I apparently broke this story -- meaning that DXM was the first outlet to mention that Sanchez had released a statement and to put it out there. The Hollywood Reporter even contacted me to confirm that it was on the up and up. See, I matter in this world. Guess I can untie the rope from around the rafters in my living room now and put the chair away.)