Oklahoma City anchor apologizes for comparing black co-host to gorilla

[Demovictory9]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/oklahoma-city-anchor-apologizes-for-comparing-black-co-host-to-gorilla/ar-AAGoSgb?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=iehp

In a tearful segment that aired on Oklahoma City’s KOCO-TV, morning anchor Alex Housden apologized to her co-anchor Jason Hackett after comparing him to a gorilla during a broadcast Thursday.

The racist comment occurred after the pair reported on a story about a gorilla at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

Housden ended the segment with the comment: “Kind of looks like you,” directed at Hackett.

“He kind of does, actually, yeah,” Hackett hesitantly responded.

The following day, Hackett, who is African American, accepted her apology and said he wanted to take the experience as a teachable moment to his viewers.

“The lesson here is that words matter,” he said sitting beside Housden. “We have to understand the stereotypes, we have to understand each other’s backgrounds and the words that hurt, the words that cut deep.”
Housden called the comment inconsiderate and inappropriate. She said she knows it was wrong and that she would never intentionally hurt her colleague.

“I hurt people. I want you to know I understand how much I hurt you out there and how much I hurt you,” she said tearfully turning to her co-anchor.

[Polly Hennessey]

1. Why would you even say something

like that to anyone much less on a public program. To me she is not coming across as too bright and just blurted out her thoughts. I get the feeling he was really hurt by the comment.

[Aristus]

3. It's Oklahoma.

Racism and shitty education...

[bobbieinok]

5. Know people might think, say it--but directly in some one's face? How can he still work with her??

[kiri]

16. black hand on white woman

The RW meme: She put her hand on his arm as a sympathetic gesture, which touching is acceptable (except to Gillibrand).

He put his hand on her knee/thigh when she wore a short skirt, as a sexual aggression--black hand on white woman.

RW sites are having apoplexy.

[Demonaut]

10. as kids we would compare siblings to apes, simple insult that's funny to a child

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. quick! talk about nuking hurricanes!

[phylny]

4. He is the bigger person here

and she should be out of a job.

[Stuart G]

6. She may not be out of this job...maybe, but this idiot will never get another job as an anchor.

If she applies or tries to get another job, the answer is a very loud "NO" Why a loud "NO"

because...."stupid is, what stupid is"

And, she proved she is very, very, stupid. That's all folks. Sylvester the Cat, is a genius compared to this stupid lady.

[oasis]

7. Indefensible.

[UniteFightBack]

8. I will take the lead from Mr. Hackett. nt

[rockfordfile]

9. Fire her

[TheBlackAdder]

11. Who does she look like?

.

The White *itch!



https://www.tvguide.com/movies/epic-movie/cast/285615/

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0799949/characters/nm0177639?ref_=tt_cl_t3

.

[nolabear]

12. This might be unpopular but I think she should be forgiven.

Was it a dreadful thing to say? Yes. Did she mean to demean him? I don’t think so. I think it was a terrible slip and did reveal the kind of unconscious racism most people have in one form or another, but I think she was horrified and her apology was heartfelt and real. He was gracious and the moment was a teachable one. To fire or endlessly castigate her would be to close off any path for change.

[lunatica]

15. I agree with you

She apologized to him as well as to the public, and he graciously accepted and used the occasion to explain something very important to viewers.

We have those open exchanges and discussions here on DU, and it has educated us and made us better. We need to remember that not too many other places have openly discussed racism before. I think the news agency did the difficult thing of facing the racism squarely in public. By using the person insulted and the person giving the insult, whether intended or not, to deal with the issue together and in public for everyone to see is a very good move.

[Skittles]

17. her apology does ring true

[Floyd R. Turbo]

13. Crocodile tears! Actually I don't see any tears. Not only is she a racist shit, she's also a lousy

actress!

[SWBTATTReg]

14. Stupid stupid stupid...

What else is she going to blurt out in following newscasts? This is going to sink her career (as it should)...how can someone say this kind of thing?

No excuses...