After Keith Olbermann's tweet, hunter feels threatened for killing white turkey

Brian Broom
Updated
“Keith Olbermann‘s tweet was recklessly irresponsible," Hall wrote. "Someone with his following needs to understand the possible impact of his words."

JACKSON, Miss. – A Mississippi hunter has found himself in a wave of controversy after TV personality Keith Olbermann asked his Twitter following of more than 1 million to make the man's life a living hell.

Hunter Waltman, 22, of Kiln, Mississippi, recently harvested an unusual white wild turkey. Wildlife biologists determined that it was partially albino, a condition called leucism. Olbermann took issue with Waltman's killing the bird. He not only called on his following to rally against Waltman, but also for the reporter to be fired for writing about it.

Waltman said he has been receiving verbal attacks because of Olbermann's actions. While no one directly threatened to harm him, some said they hoped harm came his way.

"I didn't like the idea of that too much," Waltman said. "I don't think a lot of people would like to be called out on social media like that, especially (by someone) with so many followers.

March 26: Keith Olbermann: Make this Mississippi hunter's life hell for killing white turkey

"They text me all kinds of stuff. If he (Olbermann) hadn't done that, none of this would have happened."

Clarion Ledger executive editor Sam R. Hall responded to Olbermann's initial tweet on Tuesday.

“Keith Olbermann says Brian Broom should be fired for writing this story,” he wrote. “What was I thinking? I guess I should have fired our outdoors writer for writing about a hunter killing an unusual turkey during turkey hunting season.”

March 25: Mississippi hunter bags 'exceptionally rare' white turkey

Hall issued a written statement Wednesday.

“Keith Olbermann‘s tweet was recklessly irresponsible," Hall wrote. "Someone with his following needs to understand the possible impact of his words.

"Telling over 1 million people to make someone’s life a living hell could have seriously dangerous consequences. In our newsroom, that would be a fireable offense, not writing a story about a hunter bagging a turkey.”

Waltman said that prior to Olbermann's attack he had never heard of the ESPN commentator and former MSNBC political host. Waltman said that he now considers Olbermann threatening.

"To tell you the truth, it seemed like a threat to me," Waltman said. "Make (my) life 'a living hell?' That seems like a threat to me. I'd be glad to see him fired. He went overboard."

Follow Brian Broom on Twitter: @BrianBroom

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: After Keith Olbermann's tweet, hunter feels threatened for killing white turkey