iHeart Upstate New York Market Manager Robert Morgan acted quickly after hearing what Kimberly Ray from the Kimberly and Beck PM Drive show said on WAIO-FM 95.1 in Rochester.
During a discussion about an attack on a Rochester couple following a Black Lives Matter protest Ray referred to the n-word three times asking whether the attackers were acting “n-word-ish” and “n-word-ly.” Ray did not actually use the n-word.
Listen to the segment HERE
Here’s the statement from Morgan: ‘We made the decision to terminate Kimberly Ray and Barry Beck yesterday as soon as we learned of their comments and informed them early this morning. We will not tolerate this kind of behavior, which is antithetical to our core values and beliefs and to our commitment to our community and everyone in it.”
The duo have had their radio troubles. In 2015 The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported that the duo were sued for slander one year after they were fired from another Rochester station after making fun of transgender people
Who gets to decide this? Anything deemed Racist. Where is the Judge and Jury? Just the current mob opinion or who shouts loudest? This is sounding more and more like thought police and the cultural revolution. Remember that the last cultural revolution killed untold millions in favor of a repressive system of government that now threatens the rest of the word today. Freedom of speech is the freedom to be offensive and wrong too. Do what we were all told back in the day when somebody was saying something offensive in the media, change the channel, don’t buy the product, ignore them, and they will go away. The answer to offensive speech is more speech. Not “consequences” for the speaker.
three points to make. first you can be outlandish without offending people. this is a lesson I learned from host Gary Stone. he calls himself the drooling hobbit and by pointing attention to himself and his many flaws like body odor, wearing feather boas, talking about how he lost all his friends, he can be outrageous yet endearing. when he talks about feeling discriminated against because people hate low-IQ drooling hobbits, we know he is making social commentary but directing it at himself. two, i learned my lesson early in my career thinking i was a funny guy by referring to a caller as a q******ing c-word who *****s d****’s. now I teach broadcasting. so people can learn. three we all know, it is understood in the industry, that Kimberly and Beck were trying to get out of their contract to start their own independent house, so this was clearly that move.
I am so proud of these comments above me. Proof that people do understand that you can be appalled by and condemn both the actions of the men in the story (which is disgusting and horrid) and clearly racist attitudes like these. You are credits to our industry, and I am proud to share this space with you. Thank you!
-Fletch
I just have to wonder what goes through the heads of some people. These folks weren’t beginners. They had to know the would be consequences for their actions.. But, then I work with people ever day, educated people, who still amaze me with their beliefs on racism and politics. Only difference is, they keep it off the air and to themselves.
Agree 100% with JP.
Howard Stern started the toxic, classless trend of vulgarity and personal attacks and succeeded. Since then, many wanna-bees have tried to be even more “outrageous” — trying to use crudeness and even racist comments in place of compelling content, because they have nothing really to say.
It’s great that these two racist clowns were booted off the radio. Hopefully this is the beginning of many stations cleaning up their act.
Good. We need to make racism shameful and with consequence.