Former Indy Radio DJ Fired For On-Air Slur
Vegas Weatherman Disparages MLK Jr. During Newscast
Posted: 01/17/2005
Last Updated:
3050 days ago
A television weatherman who started his career on an Indianapolis radio station was fired after referring to slain civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. as "Martin Luther Coon King" on the air, station officials said.
Rob Blair, of KTNV-TV, was delivering the extended forecast Saturday morning when he said: "Martin Luther Coon King Jr. Day, gonna see some temperatures in the mid-60s."Jim Prather, vice president and general manager of the ABC affiliate, said Blair stumbled when he uttered the remark, but the excuse was not enough to save his job."This kind of incident is not acceptable under any circumstances, and I'm truly sorry that this event occurred," Prather said.Blair, who worked at the station for about three months, apologized during the station's 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts Saturday."I in no way intended to offend anyone," he said in the apology. "I'm very sorry." According to Blair's resume, he started a radio career at WZPL in Indianapolis before moving to Orange County, Calif., to attend Chapman University. Blair has reportedly worked as a weather broadcaster in Palm Springs, Calif., Monterey and Chico, Calif.
Rob Blair, of KTNV-TV, was delivering the extended forecast Saturday morning when he said: "Martin Luther Coon King Jr. Day, gonna see some temperatures in the mid-60s."Jim Prather, vice president and general manager of the ABC affiliate, said Blair stumbled when he uttered the remark, but the excuse was not enough to save his job."This kind of incident is not acceptable under any circumstances, and I'm truly sorry that this event occurred," Prather said.Blair, who worked at the station for about three months, apologized during the station's 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts Saturday."I in no way intended to offend anyone," he said in the apology. "I'm very sorry." According to Blair's resume, he started a radio career at WZPL in Indianapolis before moving to Orange County, Calif., to attend Chapman University. Blair has reportedly worked as a weather broadcaster in Palm Springs, Calif., Monterey and Chico, Calif.
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