We’re no longer shocked when a popular Christian figure does something to invite the scorn of his or her faithful (so to speak) fans. But when Azariah Southworth, host of “The Remix,” a popular Christian version of MTV’s “Cribs” told a Nashville paper last week that he’s gay, the response was truly astounding: nothing. “I know I will be cut off from many within the Christian community,” he told Out & About (adding, “and if so, then they didn’t get the point of the life of Christ”). But so far he says his employers have yet to inform Southworth that he’s been fired. And though he says his inbox is filling up with emails supporting his decision to out himself, few are from those who watch the show.

Why the wait in firing him? Perhaps Christian entertainment outlets, too, are hardly shocked at this kind of news anymore, and have other things on their to-do lists before firing the latest transgressor in their stable. Not likely. It could be that public relations is trumping principles: “The Remix” producers may figure they’ll only draw more attention to Southworth’s editorializing, and prove his point in some minds, by coming down swiftly.
In any case, it’s hard to imagine that Southworth will still be hosting “The Remix” for much longer: even if his bosses stand by him, the fate of the syndicated show really rests with local Christian programmers, who are known for their caution.