The reason for the apology was for putting callers on the air who were telling Polish jokes during Dyngus Day, which is very popular in Buffalo. The Dyngus Day website says it’s an annual event in Buffalo, “to celebrate spring, show Polish pride, flirt with pussy willows and listen to the best polka bands in the nation.” According to The Buffalo News after hearing the jokes, Polish groups were threatening to boycott advertisers and demanding an apology. Here’s what they got.
Cumulus Buffalo Market Manager Steve Bearance shared this statement with Radio Ink “At 97 Rock and all of our Cumulus stations, we take listener feedback very seriously. Last week, our 97 Rock morning team used poor judgment when taking calls from listeners with Polish jokes, trying to bring humor to a day of celebration, and we sincerely apologize to any and all that were offended. Our team apologized on air last Friday and individually to those listeners that contacted us directly. We are here to support the Buffalo community, and have supported the Dyngus Day Parade and celebration, among many other community events, for several years. We will continue to support the parade and celebration in a more positive way in the future.”
