An MDA telethon without Jerry Lewis? The Twitter backlash
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On Sunday (Sept. 4), for the first time in 45 years the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) will air without Jerry Lewis as master of ceremonies. According to CBS News, Lewis helped the MDA to raise more than $2.5 billion in his years with the show.
In May, the MDA announced that this year's broadcast would be the final appearance for Lewis. Then, in early August, MDA board chairman R. Rodney Howell said in a statement that Lewis had been "released" from his involvement with the organization.
On Twitter, outrage at the MDA was palpable. A sampling of reactions:
When MDA foreclosed Jerry Lewis this year, I felt like saying, "Can't the government do something?" But haven't they done enough already?less than a minute ago via web 
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Mort Sahl
mortsahlsays
Learn more about our 1st annual #JerryLewis Award event to support MD research on our press release: http://ow.ly/6kMVeless than a minute ago via HootSuite Favorite Retweet Reply
Laugh Factory
thelaughfactory
While it's sad Jerry Lewis has split with the MDA, at least now he can spend more time in the fight against Hoybenfloybenism.less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet Reply
Josh Weinstein
JElvisWeinstein
Jerry Lewis isn't dead. And he didn't retire. He was ousted. What a hoot #Mda. Gotta be kidding!less than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Retweet Reply
Showbiz 411
showbiz411
I can't believe Jerry Lewis was booted from the MDA telethon. Let the old man sing his song.less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet Reply
Ryan Stewart
crsryan
It is the JERRY LEWIS'S MDA Telethon, these ingrates can go to heck. 50 years, 2.5 bil and they treat Jerry this way? I'll support cancer or some other outfit that actually has class. what a way to treat a legand and loyal servant.
MDA telethon you have sunk to a new low
Where would the MDA be without Jerry?
Where's Jerry with the MDA? I'm with Jerry.
The MDA has lost me. They should have shown more class and appreciation.
raised 2.5 billions, what did the mda do with all of it?
I'd like to hear Mr. Lewis' side of the story, but on the surface it appears the MDA feels they've used this guy up and don't "need" him any more. Maybe they'll outsource his job to Ansari Aziz.
I really like the idea now that the MDA Telethon is only on Sunday Evening for six hours.
Also I'm happy for Tennis Fans can get to see U.S. Open Tennis keep in mine for many years some CBS Affiliate pre-empted U.S. Open Tennis Monday Labor Day edition because of MDA Telethon.
After all what Jerry has done. He put MDA on the map. They should have done the right thing and had a great farewell for him on his last show. There just is not any appreciation anymore for the hard dedicated (they do not know what this is) work he has done for the MDA and the people who suffer this bad disease. Forget about contributing!!!!!!
Can't wait to see the numbers, which MDA has not released yet, compaired to when Jerry was on. Jerry put his heart and soul in MDA, and put the disease in the forefront when no one ever heard of it. He has never revealed why this became his quest. To be dumped by the very people you nearly killed yourself to help is a disgrace. They could have given him his last year.
Even if Lewis is losing his mind and it would be a mistake to put him on, MDA handled this very badly. They should have taped something so Lewis could have had a proper send off.
FYI, MDA is claiming it raised $61.5 million.