Bill Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights responded to the reports. “We know that Jacobson said ‘F*** Notre Dame’ at the January 11 celebrity roast for radio personalities Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic. We also know that ESPN has suspended her for a week as a result. What we don’t know is whether, as reported on some websites, she also said ‘F*** Jesus’ at the event. If she did, then that changes everything.”
“It is one thing to use an obscenity to rip a Catholic university, quite another to use the vilest of terms about Jesus,” Donohue said. He called on ESPN to make public the video of the event.
ESPN suspended Jacobson for a week because of the comments. Meanwhile, the Christian Defense Coalition planned a demonstration and prayer vigil outside of ESPN’s Bristol, Connecticut headquarters for January 25. Some critics have called for Jacobson to be fired.
The Detroit Free Press reports that Jacobson issued an apology in a Tuesday statement. "I am sorry. My remarks about Notre Dame were foolish and insensitive. I respect all religions and did not mean anything derogatory by my poorly chosen words,” she said. "My actions at the roast were inappropriate and in no way represent who I am. I won't make excuses for my behavior, but I do hope I can be forgiven for such a poor lack of judgment."
The University of Notre Dame also reacted to Jacobson’s comments pertaining to the school. “While we in no way condone Ms. Jacobson’s comments, we’re aware of the circumstances in which they occurred,” Notre Dame spokesperson Dennis Brown said to the South Bend Tribune, continuing, “and, in the interest of forgiveness, trust that she and ESPN have addressed the matter in an appropriate way.”
In the latest development, Bill Donahue has expressed his satisfaction that ESPN has handled the situation adequately. “On January 22, I said in a news release that ‘there is no evidence that ESPN is taking this matter seriously.’ I am happy to say that after speaking to two ESPN officials today, and having learned more about exactly what happened, that they are in fact taking this matter seriously. Indeed, I am convinced that what occurred at the roast will not happen again.”