Lubbock radio host: Orlando victims were 'getting lit, using illegal drugs and spreading STDs'

Wade Wilkes, owner and host of KRFE AM 580, said in a Facebook post that victims of the mass shooting at Pulse in Orlando were "getting lit, using illegal drugs and spreading STDs" when they were killed on June 12, 20016. less Wade Wilkes, owner and host of KRFE AM 580, said in a Facebook post that victims of the mass shooting at Pulse in Orlando were "getting lit, using illegal drugs and spreading STDs" when they were killed on June ... more Photo: Facebook.com/wade.wilkes.5 Photo: Facebook.com/wade.wilkes.5 Image 1 of / 21 Caption Close Lubbock radio host: Orlando victims were 'getting lit, using illegal drugs and spreading STDs' 1 / 21 Back to Gallery

A Lubbock radio host responded to the Orlando nightclub massacre, deemed the deadliest in modern U.S. history, by calling the scene where at least 49 victims died a "hook up bar" where patrons were "getting lit, using illegal drugs and spreading STDs."

Wade Wilkes, the owner and host of Lubbock's KRFE AM580 radio station, has used Facebook to vocalize his views on the Pulse nightclub mass shooting since the news broke early Sunday morning. His most controversial post was published later that evening and remains on his public, personal profile as of Tuesday.

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Wilkes, a West Texas A&M University graduate and retired Army Reservist, according to the KRFE website, posted a rebuttal to President Obama's remarks including one in which he said the victims gathered at the nightclub to "advocate for their civil rights," before being killed by a gunman.

"Hello goofy Obama, it's a hook up bar," Wilkes said in his response. "No one was 'sharing' ideas or talking about 'civil rights.' They were getting lit, using illegal drugs and spreading STDs."

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The post fueled another debate between the show's listeners in the comments section. While some supported the commentator, he was challenged by others who prompted another Facebook response.

The President of the United States of America actually said, "The victims of this horrible tragedy were just coming... Posted by Wade Wilkes on Sunday, June 12, 2016

"That was just a dumb response from President," Wilkes addressed Facebook users in the thread of comments attached to his post. "I agree with the loss of life but do not say they 'were just sharing ideas and conversing about civil rights.' That's just politicizing this horrible deal. Obama is a horrible person."

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Other listeners vowed to never tune into Wilkes' broadcast again.

"You employ a bigot who turns a national tragedy as a way to push his agenda," a listener wrote on the KRFE - AM 580 Facebook page. "Until Wade Wilkes is no longer employed by you you have lost a long time listener."

The station responded: "Wade owns the station, so I don't see that happening."

Wilkes was not immediately available for comment Tuesday morning.

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