Erik Lanigan.com

I've made a video explaining my wrongful termination from TWiT and subsequent slander by Leo Laporte on his broadcasts. I want you to understand how completely innocent I am of wrongdoing and how eager I am to distance myself from Leo's drama and to start working again.

http://youtu.be/iHQ0fLN63UE

I really appreciate all your Likes, Comments, and Comment Votes on YouTube. The support from fans has been incredible! You may also want to read the comments on my Google+ post of the same video.

UPDATE: A few days after I posted my video, Gawker, Drudge Report, and others exposed a hidden relationship between Leo and his CEO/business partner Lisa. I want to clarify that I had nothing to do with that relationship being exposed -- in fact, I doubted such a relationship even existed. I had no idea an explicit chat was ever broadcast, I never leaked it to anyone, and I never would have. That is indeed beneath me, and I had no part in it.

A few of you have asked why I did not censor anonymous comments on my video that linked to the explicit video. Here is the reason: I am under no obligation to destroy evidence in order to protect Leo, especially after the financial, emotional, and libel damage he has caused me and my family. This is karma at work. I hope he clarifies very soon that I had nothing to do with Gawker's story. He is allowing his fans to spread that myth and, by doing so, is once again using me as a scapegoat.

I can't thank you enough for all of your support. Here are some excerpts from my favorite fan letters:

Good for you to defend yourself! Everything Leo was doing, and why, was incredibly obvious and in plain site. We all saw it happen. You were sandbagged. Believe in yourself. Remember the reason this happened is because YOU ARE EXCEPTIONAL at this work. That is very good news for you. Nobody can take your talent away from you.

Leo may have started with good intentions, but he obviously has some character flaws that got the best of him. You don't want to work with someone with this kind of character, so it is for the best that you find this out right away, and not after being used for 5 or so years. […] Remember, you still have supporters, friends and fans out here. You should own your own show, and you will do great.

Terrific video! Good for you! It certainly clears up a lot for people like me who knew, at best, only bits & pieces. […] I'm glad you're moving forward. You've got the support of lots of fans like me. You work hard & you're very talented. I'd love to hear some good news about things turning around for you. […] In a way, I think a young talented guy like you is positioned very well to maneuver in this changing landscape. […] Please keep me posted!

I am glad that your side of the story is being told. I really do feel that you are getting the raw end of the deal. I used to like to watch TWiT but after what has gone on over the last month, I am done with watching TWiT. I am quite upset at what has happened and how you and others have been treated and continue to be treated by TWiT even after you are gone.

I am so glad you put this video together. It confirms what I think should be clear to everyone who watches TWiT […] How do you "groom" someone to "become talent" (so condescending--it makes me physically sick) then talk endlessly on air about how that person is "young and inexperienced"? […] I thought you were staff and would have continued to think that if Leo didn't make those belittling statements about you. Is that how you support and promote your "protégée?" […]

He is obviously threatened by your talent and looks […] what I liked was your ability to take random calls and focus in on the point the caller was trying to make without belittling them and bring it back around into a discussion that viewers could follow. Yes, you needed someone to screen calls. But you did better than I think Leo would have done without help, he would have obviously lost his cool and become terribly condescending--as he often is during the Tech Guy.

Boy, that was really something of a video. Don't you just love Leo's promotion of your show? If I could slap Leo for making a joke out of your show and making you promises he didn't keep. For Leo to say your show is so timely that he's decided not to put it up for download is a slap in your face. There's TNT that's as timely (or more so) as yours and it's up on iTunes for download. There's others, but you get my point. […]

Leo said he was kissing butt for the first 20 yrs of his career. What a bad joke on you. Leo made it sound that because he had to kiss butt for so long, he was having fun making you do the same. After the video was finished, my thought was how fake Leo sounded and why didn't he say how he really felt. I use to be a huge Leo fan. Then I met him and saw, imho, how phony he really is off camera.

From the video, I gather that you were treated like a kid time after time and thrown under the bus for the gain of others. I think you are super talented, genuine, smart, and have a great personality. I've watched many of your shows and appearances on TTB and other shows. I think you should keep your head up and move forward with your goals and ambitions. Please keep me and all of your large group of supporters updated so we can follow you, participate, and watch you again. All the best.

His loss, not yours! In my view, you did nothing wrong […] you said he fired you by text and [did not] talk with you at all...which is just wrong! […] Don't let this discourage you and your career, you are talented and a great on air personality, love your shows could not always watch live though. Anyhow will always be a fan of yours. Your career is fine don't worry about it, you will go far. […] Will be watching wherever you go.

Erik Lanigan.com

May 25, 2012

Erik on "Tech News Weekly" 2012.05.25

May 15, 2012

My Name Is In Steve Jobs's Biography!

Erik's Theory of Television & Broadband

May 11, 2012

Erik on "Tech News Weekly" 2012.05.11

March 2, 2012

Erik on "Tech News Weekly" 2012.03.02

February 17, 2012

Erik on "Tech News Weekly" 2012.02.17

February 3, 2012

Erik on "Tech News Weekly" 2012.02.03

December 21, 2011

Why I'm No Longer at TWiT

October 23, 2011

Erik on "Tech News Weekly" 2011.10.28

Erik Guest-Hosting on "Bagel Tech BIG" 2011.10.27