Kappell, who also filed a defamation lawsuit against WHEC-TV in April, claims that Warren's negative comments caused him to lose his job, tarnished his family's name and put his career in jeopardy. Warren and other city officials called for Kappell's firing shortly after the January incident, releasing a statement that condemned his "racially derogatory, insensitive and vulgar language." That's what led Kappell to file a lawsuit against both Rochester's government and its mayor, Lovely Warren, on Monday. Martin Luther King Jr."īut city officials were not quick to accept that apology. I would never want to tarnish the reputation of such a great man as Dr. If you did feel that it hurt you in any way, I sincerely apologize. "That is not a word I said - I promise you that. I had no idea the way it came across to many people," Kappell said. "In my mind, I knew I mispronounced but there was no malice. Shortly after his firing, the weatherman posted a video to his Facebook page, apologizing for his actions and explaining what he described as an unfortunate mistake. Kappell has long contended he spoke the slur on accident. "These words have no place on News10NBC’s air, and the fact that we broadcast them disheartens and disgusts me." Reingold, the station's vice president, said at the time. "As a result of that broadcast, meteorologist Jeremy Kappell is no longer with News10NBC," Richard A. The station removed Kappell two days later and released a statement condemning his words. Jeremy Kappell, a former meteorologist for WHEC-TV in Rochester, NY., was fired in January after he seemed to speak the phrase "Martin Luther Coon King Jr. He ended the video with a request for viewers to “please, hold back your judgment.A weatherman who was fired for allegedly uttering a racial slur live on air is now filing a lawsuit against his city's government, claiming he's "suffered greatly" due to its treatment of him. 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. He was not fired.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.
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