Mass Suicide ‘A Good Way To Get Rid Of A Few Nuts,’ Turner Says

Ted Turner, known for making outrageous comments, said Saturday that the mass suicide in California was “a good way to get rid of a few nuts.”

“There’s too many people anyway,” said Turner, founder of Turner Broadcasting and owner of the Atlanta Braves baseball team. “We’ve got too many nuts running around anyway, right?”

Turner spoke at a news conference prior to the opening of the Braves’ new stadium, Turner Field. Turner, who built the Cable News Network, is vice chairman of Time-Warner, which merged with Turner Broadcasting last year.

He veered to the subject of the mass suicide while talking about all the unpleasant news that is broadcast each day.

“You turn on the TV and there’s one murder after another,” he said.

The suicide was carried out by 39 people who believed they would be redeemed by a UFO trailing the Hale-Bopp comet.

“It’s a good way to get rid of a few nuts,” Turner said. “They did it peacefully. At least they didn’t go in like those SOBs who go in a McDonald’s or the post office and shoot a lot of innocent people, then shoot themselves. At least they just did it to themselves.”

Turner also discussed the cult’s beliefs.

“They could be behind that comet,” he said. “It does look good. I’ve been looking at it. I would kind of like to go up there myself. Is there that much difference in other religions saying you’re going to heaven?”