A New York meteorologist fired after using a racial insult in the air



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During the Friday night broadcast on WHEC-TV, Jeremy Kappell said "Martin Luther Coon Park", in reference to a downtown Rochester park named after the leader of the civil rights movement assassinated, Martin Luther King Jr.

In a video watched by CNN, Kappell says "King" immediately after using the link and continues with the show.

Kappell stated that his use of the link was a mistake caused by talking too fast.

"What happened on Friday is a simple misunderstanding, if you look at me regularly, you know that I tend to hold a lot of information in my weather distribution, which forces me to speak quickly and unfortunately I spoke a little too fast when I was referring to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. So fast that I scrambled a few words in my mind, I knew that I had misjudged, but he There was no malice, I did not know at all how it had happened, a lot of people, "he said in a video posted on Facebook Monday night.

Kappell stated as soon as he had heard the wrong pronunciation that he "was focusing on" King "and was moving on to something else."

"I did not know at all what some people might have interpreted as a mistake and I know that some people have misinterpreted it, it's not a word I've said, I promise you. it hurt you anyway, I sincerely apologize, "he said.

Insults provoke an uproar on social media

Excerpts from Kappell who used these racist insults circulated on social media over the weekend, provoking Rochester Mayor Lovely A. Warren and the city council to issue a statement Sunday.

"It is false, hurtful and infuriating that WHEC Channel 10 is broadcasting a racial insult referring to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during his Friday News broadcast," reads the statement. "It is totally unacceptable that this happens.There must be real consequences for the new personality involved as well as for the management team who did not immediately apologize and solved the problem. "

The Mayor and City Council called for Kappell's dismissal and resignation. a review of WHEC's response to the incident.

"It took almost two days for the channel to apologize, and only after the station was ashamed to do so by brutal reaction on social media," reads the statement.

The Rochester Black Journalists Association (RABJ) also issued a statement Sunday condemning the use of racist insults on the airwaves. The statement of the organization indicates having viewed a recording of the incident provided by a viewer.

"This is totally unacceptable and contrary to all broadcasting standards," reads the statement. "We are waiting for a full explanation of what happened, of the responsibilities and the reason why nothing was said immediately after the broadcast on Friday." We also want to know what steps will be taken to prevent this. such incidents do not happen again. "

WHEC & # 39; s Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard A. Reingold, said in a statement released Sunday that Kappell had been fired after an internal investigation and discussions.

"I apologize for spreading a racist insult referring to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on our Friday night show," said Reingold. He added that the station's policy was to keep reporters and anchors "at the highest level".

"These comments have no place in News10NBC broadcasts, and the fact that we broadcast them with disappointment and disgust of me, that it was not captured immediately is inexcusable "said Reingold.

Reingold said that the decision of the radio to dismiss Kappell was not influenced by the call of the mayor of the city.

"We learned of the existence of this Sunday morning, unfortunately long after the incident," he said Sunday on the radio. "We made the decision that we had taken some time before I knew the position of the mayor, so I welcome her position, I understand her, I respect her, but it has not been a problem. affect our decision because we did not know it. "

Kappell said in his video that he was a meteorologist for 20 years. His LinkedIn page indicates that he has been at WHEC since October 2017.

Kappell said that he was not satisfied with the station's response to the incident.

"I am so disappointed that my career can end so well and I am extremely disappointed by my TV channel, which I expect from some support and I do not have received at all, "he said.

CNN's Melanie Whitney contributed to this report.

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