Radio Broadcaster Fired After Racial Description of Kamala Harris
By Johnathan Jones
Published August 22, 2020 at 1:55pm
A radio host in Cleveland has been fired for using an offensive term to describe Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris of California.
During WTAM radio’s broadcast Wednesday of the Cleveland Indians’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, host Kyle Cornell used the term “colored” to describe Harris during a cut-in.
“The U.S. officially has its first colored vice presidential candidate; more coming up after the game,” Cornell said in an effort to keep the audience listening.
WKYC-TV reported Cornell, a 26-year-old news anchor at the station, was fired shortly afterward, when his choice of words caused outrage.
Cornell spoke with WKYC-TV and explained that he did not mean the word in a “malicious” way.
“I wasn’t trying to be malicious or in any way decimate the character or anything like that,” Cornell told the station of his description of Harris.
“That was never the goal. And for that, I am truly sorry.”
Cornell also apologized to his former employer.
“For the station of WTAM too, I feel awful for putting them through what they’ve had to go through over the past 24 hours … I just want them to understand it was a rough choice to make and that I accept my punishment and know that I still love and care about everyone at the station, wish them well, and I hope that they can forgive me for making a judgment in error and something that I know is not me,” he said, according to WKYC.
WTAM issued a statement saying that cutting Cornell over his Harris comment was an easy decision.
“We are aware of the reference made on WTAM by Kyle Cornell. We take this matter very seriously and addressed it immediately,” the station said.
“The term used is extremely offensive and does not align with our station’s core values and commitment to the communities we serve. He is no longer with WTAM,” the statement added.
Harris was chosen by Biden last week after Biden had committed previously to choosing a woman as a running mate.
Harris, 55, is the first woman of color on a major party ticket. She is of mixed ethnicity; her mother was born in India, and her father is black and from Jamaica, according to Politifact.
Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, California.
Poster Comment:
Dang me, dang me, they oughtta take a rope and hang me.
Kamala Harris Is Biden's Choice for Vice President. A former rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, she will be the first woman of color -- New York Times
Joe Biden will choose 'woman of color' as running mate by August -- New York Post
Kamala Harris on Joe Biden's 'Audacious' Move to Choose a Woman of Color as His Running Mate -- Entertainment Tonight
Kamala Harris tells ABC's Robin Roberts she credits Biden with 'audacious' pick of woman of color VP -- ABC News
Kamala Harris makes history as first woman of color to accept a major party nomination for vice president -- Washington Post
‘It is historic’: Women of color dominate Joe Biden’s list for vice president -- Los Angeles Times
About that running mate: 72% of Democrats in USA TODAY poll say it's 'important' Biden pick woman of color -- USA Today