Fury of the comics' favourite from Opie & Anthony

American comedy 'shock jock' Anthony Cumia – of Opie & Anthony fame –has been fired from his radio show after sparking a racism storm.

The presenter was fired from his SiriusXM show – a favourite with comedians – after an altercation with a black woman in New York led to a series of controversial tweets.

Cumia was attacked by the woman after taking her photograph while she was walking the streets late at night – which is legal, although many of his detractors have pointed out it may also be considered 'creepy'. The woman turned on Cumia and punched him about ten times, allegedly calling him a 'white motherfucker'.

But it is the presenter's comments on Twitter after the attack that cost him his job.

He tweeted at the time: 'The automatic jump to violence in that community is astounding. No discussion. It's start punching at the least little thing. Uncivilized!!

'Savage violent animal fucks prey on white people. Easy targets. This CUNT has no clue how lucky she was. She belted me 10 times. I had a gun.'

'I'm fucking livid. If I was an illegal savage I'd have shot her. The... violence in her was so predictable. I hope she gets killed... I hope she gets shot in her ass fuck face. Ugh They aren't people.'

'It's a jungle out in our cities after midnight. Violent savages own the streets. They all came 2 defend this pig. I had to yell like at dogs'

After being taken to task about his language, Cumia insisted he hadn't been racist, arguing: 'Reverends & pastors all over the US have rallies, marches & vigils against violence in black communities. I comment on it & I'm racist? Why?'

But he did admit: 'When I'm being punched in the face, the thought that what I say may offend my attacker is pretty far down on the to do list.'

He also insisted there was nothing creepy about the photographs he was taking, posting: 'I was taking late night NYC pics of everything. Cops, construction, bldgs, homeless, cars, lights and people. I had no agenda u morons.'

But his defence cut no mustard with his bosses at SiriusXM.

In a statement, spokesman Patrick Reilly confirmed today: 'SiriusXM has terminated its relationship with Anthony Cumia of the Opie & Anthony channel.

'The decision was made, and Cumia informed, late Thursday, July 3, after careful consideration of his racially-charged and hate-filled remarks on social media. Those remarks and postings are abhorrent to SiriusXM, and his behaviour is wholly inconsistent with what SiriusXM represents.'

Cumia attacked the decision to axe him, saying: 'Welcome to bizarro world. Fired for shit that wasn't even on the air & wasn't illegal'

This is not the first time the duo has been in trouble. In 2003, they ran a stunt called Sex for Sam, which involved people having sex in public places in exchange for prizes. In 2000 16 people associated with the show, including comedians Lewis Black and Jim Norton, were arrested for driving a glass-sided bus of naked women through Manhattan. And in a beach party called T&A with O&A in 2002, Wikipedia says: 'Several female attendees appeared nude or topless, and at least one inserted vegetables into various orifices.'

The Opie & Anthony show is a favourite with comedians including Jim Jefferies, Joe Rogan, Patton Oswalt, Louis CK and Doug Stanhope. It was their show that revealed Patrice O'Neal's death at the age of 41 in 2011.

Published: 4 Jul 2014