Rochester Meteorologist Let Go, Accused of On-Air Racial Slur

Tim Kenneally

Tue, January 8, 2019 at 1:59 AM UTC

A meteorologist who was terminated earlier this year after being accused of using a racial slur on-air has filed a lawsuit against the Rochester, New York, station that terminated him.The meteorologist, Jeremy Kappell, filed the suit on Monday, naming not just WHEC-TV but Hubbard Broadcasting and WHEC general manager Richard Reingold.Kappell was let go from the station in January after being accused of uttering the phrase “Dr. Martin Luther C–n King Jr. Park” while describing a photo of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Square Park during a broadcast. In a message, Reingold said that the station’s broadcast of the word “disheartens and disgusts me,” and “that it was not caught immediately is inexcusable. I regret that we did not immediately interrupt our broadcast and apologize on the spot.”Also Read: Al Roker Defends Rochester Meteorologist Accused of On-Air Racial SlurKappell denied uttering a slur at the time, calling it a “verbal slip” he would never have made intentionally, a sentiment echoed in his lawsuit.“On January 4, 2019, during a WHEC-TV broadcast, Kappell suffered from linguistic error,” the suit reads, adding that his employment was terminated “prior to interviewing Kappell to question him about the incident, and prior to conducting any real investigation into the situation.”“In fact, the only meeting Kappell had prior to being notified of his termination was one where Reingold was accusatory toward Kappell, did not let Kappell speak in any meaningful manner, and advised him that an investigation would occur.”Also Read: Rochester Meteorologist Let Go, Accused of On-Air Racial SlurThe suit adds that Reingold released a statement on behalf of the station “wherein he attributed a racial slur to Kappell, attributing a non-existent intent to Kappell that Reingold could not have reasonably had knowledge of and representing, to the world, that Kappell had intentionally uttered a racial slue.”TheWrap has reached out to WHEC for comment on the suit, which alleges breach of contract, defamation per se, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.Kappell is seeking unspecified damages.Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.Read original story Rochester Meteorologist Accused of Using Racial Slur Sues Station That Fired Him At TheWrap

A Rochester, New York meteorologist fired for what his manager calls a racial slur said it was an accidental “verbal slip” he would never have made intentionally.

In a message Monday, WHEC News10NBC general manager Richard A. Reingold said that the station’s broadcast of the word “disheartens and disgusts me,” and “that it was not caught immediately is inexcusable. I regret that we did not immediately interrupt our broadcast and apologize on the spot.”

Rochester station WHAM reported that during Friday’s broadcast, meteorologist Jeremy Kappell “showed a photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Square Park in downtown Rochester. While describing the photo, Kappell referred to the park as ‘Dr. Luther C–n King Jr. Park.'”

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“As a result of that broadcast, meteorologist Jeremy Kappell is no longer with News10NBC,” Reingold said in a statement. “Our Friday broadcast does not represent the values of News10NBC, its hardworking staff, or the great people of Rochester. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of America’s greatest heroes – for whom I, and all of us at News10NBC, have the utmost respect. I am terribly sorry to all of our viewers. We are redoubling our efforts to ensure that this never happens again.”

The broadcast drew criticism from Rochester mayor Lovely Warren, who called for Kappell’s resignation. A joint statement released by Warren, council president Loretta Scott and the Rochester City Council on Sunday read, in part, “It is wrong, hurtful and infuriating that WHEC Channel 10 broadcast a racial slur in reference to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during its Friday News broadcast. It is beyond unacceptable that this occurred. There must be real consequences for the news personality involved and also for the management team that failed to immediately apologize and address the slur,” according to WHEC.

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In a tweet on Monday, Kappell wrote, “You are out of your mind to think I would jeopardize future of my family and career to insert a racial slur against the GREATEST civil rights leader of all time?!?!”

In subsequent tweets, Kappell characterized the moment as a “verbal slip,” a “flub” and “unintentional bubbling.”

You are out of your mind to think I would jeopardize future of my family and career to insert a racial slur against the GREATEST civil rights leader of all time?!?! #Ridiculous #Hateful #Judgemental and #youdontknowthefirsthingaboutme! https://t.co/pjlBIaKGhE

– Jeremy Kappell (@JeremyKappell) January 7, 2019

Thank you will. There are some very notable cases of the exact same verbal slip including ESPN’s Mike Greensburg. Only he got to keep his job… https://t.co/iPo2NkYbeq https://t.co/5IQOG3pgG8

– Jeremy Kappell (@JeremyKappell) January 7, 2019

Check out ESPN’s Mike Greensburg. Exact same flub… https://t.co/iPo2NkYbeq https://t.co/nLzkFz6Utb

– Jeremy Kappell (@JeremyKappell) January 7, 2019

Yep, just like Mike Greensburg of ESPN. And like Mike, I feel terrible for ANYONE who may have been offended by my unintentional bubbling… https://t.co/iPo2NkYbeq https://t.co/0DM1cgtsTZ

– Jeremy Kappell (@JeremyKappell) January 7, 2019

Read original story Rochester Meteorologist Let Go, Accused of On-Air Racial Slur At TheWrap

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Rochester Meteorologist Let Go, Accused of On-Air Racial Slur

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