Talk about monkey business on the air! A news anchor for an ABC-TV affiliate recently said that her co-anchor, who is black, kind of looks like a gorilla.
And then she profusely apologized.
The Root reported anchor Alex Housden of KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City is keeping her job after uttering the following: “This is Fin. He’s a resident at the Oklahoma City Zoo and this week the zoo’s ape caretaker took over their Instagram and we are all loving that they did … Now as you can see, Fin was fascinated by the camera.”
When co-anchor Jason Hackett, who is black, said, “Definitely ready for his close up,” Housden “joked,” “He kinda looks like you.”
Laughter followed, according to the report: “The kind of laughter that black folks in white spaces know all too well. The kind of laughter that dissuades our rage and prevents us from going to jail. The kind of laughter that doubles as a prayer to the Lord for strength and forgiveness because you still have kids to feed. The kind of laughter that Housden didn’t deserve, but received anyway because America wouldn’t have it any other way. Thankfully, viewers were outraged on Hackett’s behalf, forcing Housden to address the matter on air the following day.”
See the first comment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c–YG9QTtxI
The Right Scoop said: “OK I about fell out of my chair when I heard that. Wow. Of all the things to say on-air.”
The report continued, “You gotta be better at thinking on your feet in this day and age because people will go bananas over stuff like this.”
The apology:
