Another newscaster uses racial slur to describe Dr. King

[Samori Toure]

St. Louis newscaster apologizes for inserting slur into Martin Luther King Jr.'s name on air

ST. LOUIS • A St. Louis newscaster apologized on air Thursday morning, saying that his mispronunciation of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s name that included a racial slur was “not intentional in any way.”

KTVI (Channel 2) newscaster Kevin Steincross was speaking on the station’s morning news show about 5:34 a.m. when he said an upcoming tribute to the civil rights icon at St. Louis University would honor “Martin Luther c00n Jr.,” speaking a racial slur that has been used against black people.

“I want to take a moment to apologize,” Steincross said on air a little after 9 a.m. “We have heard from a viewer about a mistake I made in our 5 a.m. newscast. In our story about the tribute to Dr. King, I unfortunately mispronounced his name. Please know I have total respect for Dr. King, what he meant and what he continues to mean to our country. This was not intentional in any way, and I sincerely apologize.”

A representative for Tribune Broadcasting said it was an unfortunate mistake, and the station will not take additional disciplinary measures against Steincross.

“The Fox2 management team spoke to Kevin following the mistake and we believe that it was truly inadvertent and does not reflect Kevin’s core beliefs,” a Tribune spokesperson said a written statement. “Kevin is extremely upset by the mistake and regrets it deeply.”

The St. Louis County chapter of the NAACP weighed in on the mispronunciation Thursday, calling it “unacceptable and very disappointing” in a social media post.

The apology marks the latest in a series of broadcasters making the same mispronunciation of King’s name, sparking debates over whether they revealed racism or were just simple mistakes.

Earlier this month, upstate New York meteorologist Jeremy Kappell was fired after speaking about weather at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park in Rochester. He instead said it looked gray at “Martin Luther c00n King Jr. Park,” appearing to stumble over the name. Three days later, News10NBC’s general manager announced that Kappell no longer worked for the station.

Fellow newscasters, including Al Roker, came to Kappell’s defense, arguing that the mispronunciation was an “unfortunate flub.” But others, including Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, a black woman, called for his firing, arguing that it revealed cultural insensitivity.

In 2013, San Antonio meteorologist Mike Hernandez, said he also misspoke the name, calling the holiday “Martin Luther c00n Day.” He apologized and kept his job.

ESPN sports broadcaster Mike Greenberg in 2010 said he and co-host on the “Mike & Mike” radio show were “talking football with you on this Martin Luther c00n King Jr. holiday” on air. He apologized and was not fired.

In 2005, Las Vegas weather reporter Rob Blair said temperatures would be in the mid-60s on “Martin Luther c00n King Jr. Day.” He was fired after working for the station for about three months.

Steincross has been working at KTVI since 1996 in roles as a general assignment reporter, co-anchor and morning newscaster, according to his bio on Fox2Now.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


https://www.stltoday.com/news/local...cle_134e250c-2d2b-5d28-b164-cdbef4382209.html

 

[diggy]

Mispronounced, smh

 

[Captain Crunch]

Accident huh

 

[CarbonBraddock]

it isn't a mistake, this is what they are. they are either outright racist or subconsciously racist. that's why many of them always seem to let something 'slip' and then try to claim it was an accident. it's an experiment any black person can do themselves. hang around a white person long enough and let them believe you aren't a violent criminal like they believe black people are, and they will say something racist or offensive like 8 times outta 10.

 

[chowism]

It isn't a mistake but we're gonna eat an L on this shyt somehow because for some reason in the last few years it has become normalized for black people to call each other c00ns. This will be how white people weasel their way out of it because they'll say will disrespect ourselves by using it towards each other. It's just like the word nikka. White people use it and then deflect to highlight our hypocrisy on the word and using it to disrespect ourselves.

 

[TRY GOD]

:awdahell:Why are black people seeking out what white people are saying about MLK in the first place? Unless they were right beside him, or in his presence, or a power player/influencer of the era; what possible insight would a white person have to offer on MLK that is relevant to black people? Who cares what Cacs are saying unless they are about some action

 

[Afrodroid]

it isn't a mistake, this is what they are. they are either outright racist or subconsciously racist. that's why many of them always seem to let something 'slip' and then try to claim it was an accident. it's an experiment any black person can do themselves. hang around a white person long enough and let them believe you aren't a violent criminal like they believe black people are, and they will say something racist or offensive like 8 times outta 10.

This 100%


Repped

 

[Kenny West]

It isn't a mistake but we're gonna eat an L on this shyt somehow because for some reason in the last few years it has become normalized for black people to call each other c00ns. This will be how white people weasel their way out of it because they'll say will disrespect ourselves by using it towards each other. It's just like the word nikka. White people use it and then deflect to highlight our hypocrisy on the word and using it to disrespect ourselves.

Resurrect slurs brehs

Cant even use the term "term of endearment" excuse for this shyt

Hate yourselves brehs

Mock each other with the tragedy of your ancestors brehs