When asked why it took him time to respond, Kappell said he didn’t even know what it was he said. Read statement from News10NBC’s General Manager In a video viewed by CNN, Kappell says “King” immediately after using the slur and continues with the Friday night broadcast. During the station’s Friday night broadcast, Kappell said “Martin Luther Coon Park” when referring to a downtown park named after Martin Luther King Jr. Kappell was fired last Sunday after saying a racial slur on a January 4 broadcast. The moment I realized that I was fumbling I immediately put the emphasis on King, not knowing that I had made a major error,” Kappell told Lemon. “It was a mispronunciation and I could tell that I was fumbling the words a little bit. The former weatherman for WHEC-TV defended himself on “CNN Tonight” with Don Lemon Thursday night. He ended the video with a request for viewers to "please, hold back your judgment.Meteorologist Jeremy Kappell says he could tell he was fumbling his words on air last week, but like any TV journalist, he said he had to keep going. Martin Luther King Jr.," he said, "so fast to the point where I jumbled a couple of words." "Unfortunately I spoke a little too fast when I was referencing Dr. Kappell has apologized and explained himself multiple times this week, most expansively during a four-minute video on Facebook in which he speaks to the camera with his wife by his side. "Anyone who has done live tv and screwed up (google any number of ones I've done) understands," he tweeted. Roker, who is black, said on Twitter on Wednesday that Kappell flubbed a line and should be given the chance to apologize on WHEC. I think made an unfortunate flub and should be given the chance to apologize on Anyone who has done live tv and screwed up (google any number of ones I’ve done) understands.Īn online "I Stand Behind Jeremy Kappell" petition seeking his reinstatement has been started online. ESPN's Mike Greenberg in 2010 reportedly made a similar slip-up pronouncing MLK's name and apologized for slurring his words. Kappel's defenders argue that mortifying bloopers are common on live TV news. Her office did not respond to a request for an interview Wednesday. Warren has since been the target of critics on social media who accuse her of pouncing on the incident too quickly. Warren argued a larger issue of insufficient cultural sensitivity among the local media was illustrated by the station apologizing only after a backlash on social media. The station fired Kappell on Sunday, the same day Mayor Lovely Warren and city officials in a statement called for Kappell's ouster. Kappell "clearly voiced a racially derogatory term," on Friday night's broadcast, said the statement from Hubbard Television Group President Robert Hubbard and station general manager Richard Reingold. "We believe we have done what is right for our station and our community, and will continue to take a strong stand for our personal and professional values." "Since our decision to terminate his employment, this station has been caught in the middle of a vitriolic political debate," the station and its parent company said in a statement Tuesday night. And online arguments persisted over whether Kappell's slip-up revealed racial malice or just a slip of the tongue on live TV. NBC weatherman and personality Al Roker tweeted in defence of Kappell. Kappell, who is white, explained it was a mispronunciation. Rochester's mayor, who is black, called the words hurtful. That polarizing question has reverberated in this upstate New York city and beyond since WHEC fired Jeremy Kappell after he apparently referred to a park in his weather report as "Martin Luther Coon King Jr. Did a TV meteorologist broadcast a racial slur or simply flub a line?
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