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| Wendy Bell WTAE/FACEBOOK |
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Pittsburgh TV station has fired a white anchorwoman over racist comments she
posted on Facebook about a deadly mass
shooting.
Pittsburgh TV station has fired a white anchorwoman over racist comments she
posted on Facebook about a deadly mass
shooting.
WTAE
severed ties with Wendy Bell following her controversial comments she made
about a suburban ambush that left five people – including a pregnant woman
and her unborn child – dead on March 9.
severed ties with Wendy Bell following her controversial comments she made
about a suburban ambush that left five people – including a pregnant woman
and her unborn child – dead on March 9.
Parent
company Hearst Television said Bell’s comments were “inconsistent with the
company’s ethics and journalistic standards,” according to Dailymail.
company Hearst Television said Bell’s comments were “inconsistent with the
company’s ethics and journalistic standards,” according to Dailymail.
It comes
less than 48 hours after the journalist, who has won 21 regional Emmys,
apologised for the vulgar remarks.
less than 48 hours after the journalist, who has won 21 regional Emmys,
apologised for the vulgar remarks.
In the
virulent rant on March 21, she wrote: “You needn’t be a criminal profiler
to draw a mental sketch of the killers who broke so many hearts two weeks ago
Wednesday.
virulent rant on March 21, she wrote: “You needn’t be a criminal profiler
to draw a mental sketch of the killers who broke so many hearts two weeks ago
Wednesday.
“They are
young black men, likely teens or in their early 20s.
young black men, likely teens or in their early 20s.
.
“They have
multiple siblings from multiple fathers and their mothers work multiple jobs.
These boys have been in the system before.
multiple siblings from multiple fathers and their mothers work multiple jobs.
These boys have been in the system before.
“They’ve
grown up there. They know the police. They’ve been arrested.”
grown up there. They know the police. They’ve been arrested.”
She also
goes on to contrast the ‘young black men’ with a black teen she witnessed
bussing tables at a restaurant, saying that teen would ‘make it.”
goes on to contrast the ‘young black men’ with a black teen she witnessed
bussing tables at a restaurant, saying that teen would ‘make it.”
Bell also
mentions how she praised the black teen’s work ethic to the restaurant manager,
then wondered ‘how long it had been since someone told him he was
special.”
mentions how she praised the black teen’s work ethic to the restaurant manager,
then wondered ‘how long it had been since someone told him he was
special.”
Authorities
have not made any arrests in the killings or provided a description of the
possible suspects.
have not made any arrests in the killings or provided a description of the
possible suspects.
Siblings
Jerry Michael Shelton, 35, Brittany Powell, 27, and Chanetta Powell, 25, along
with two cousins, Tina Shelton, 37, and Shada Mahone, 26, were killed in the
ambush shooting, police said. Chanetta Powell was nearly eight months pregnant.
Jerry Michael Shelton, 35, Brittany Powell, 27, and Chanetta Powell, 25, along
with two cousins, Tina Shelton, 37, and Shada Mahone, 26, were killed in the
ambush shooting, police said. Chanetta Powell was nearly eight months pregnant.
On
Wednesday, Bell defended herself, saying she didn’t get a ‘fair shake’ from the
station, and that the story was not about her, but about ‘African-Americans
being killed by other African-Americans.
Wednesday, Bell defended herself, saying she didn’t get a ‘fair shake’ from the
station, and that the story was not about her, but about ‘African-Americans
being killed by other African-Americans.
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