A.J. Clemente, a news anchor at KFYR in North Dakota opened his first broadcast for the station Sunday by saying what some have said sounded like the word "gay" followed by "F****** s***." His coworker, Van Tieu, handled the situation as best as she could, introducing Clemente. Clemente told viewers he graduated from West Virginia University and is used to "being from the East Coast."
Following the broadcast, Clemente was suspended, KFYR-TV news director Monica Hannan said in a statement posted on the station's Facebook page.
"I want to apologize for an incident that occurred prior to our early newscast this evening, when one of our employees used profanity on the air," Hannan wrote. "He did not realize his microphone was on, but still, that's no excuse. We train our reporters to always assume that any microphone is live at any time. Unfortunately, that was not enough in this case. We can't take back what was said. The person involved has been suspended until we resolve the situation."
Clemente tweeted that the broadcast "couldn't have gone any worse," but he's keeping it positive and called it a "rookie mistake." He also tweeted that he didn't say the word "gay," but was trying to pronounce the name of the London Marathon winner, Tsegaye Kebede.
That couldn't have gone any worse!
That couldn't have gone any worse!-- A.J. Clemente
Tough day,Thanks for the support,We all make mistakes. Im truly sorry for mine. I'll try my hardest to come back better and learn from this.
Tough day,Thanks for the support,We all make mistakes. Im truly sorry for mine. I'll try my hardest to come back better and learn from this.-- A.J. Clemente
I just want to say that I did not say the word gay, I was trying to pronounce the London Marathon winners name Tsegaye Kebede.
I just want to say that I did not say the word gay, I was trying to pronounce the London Marathon winners name Tsegaye Kebede.-- A.J. Clemente
I would never disrespect anybody in that matter. Once again I'm truly sorry.
I would never disrespect anybody in that matter. Once again I'm truly sorry.-- A.J. Clemente
Unfortunately KFYRTV has decided to let me go. Thank you to them and everyone in ND for the opportunity and everyone for the support.
Unfortunately KFYRTV has decided to let me go. Thank you to them and everyone in ND for the opportunity and everyone for the support.-- A.J. Clemente
Rookie mistake. I'm a free agent.Cant help but laugh at myself and stay positive.Wish i didnt trip over my "Freaking Shoes" out of the gate.
Rookie mistake. I'm a free agent.Cant help but laugh at myself and stay positive.Wish i didnt trip over my "Freaking Shoes" out of the gate.-- A.J. Clemente