iHeartMedia Hot Talk “Radio 95.1” WAIO Rochester NY has quickly cut ties with afternoon hosts Kimberly Ray and Barry Beck following comments made on Tuesday’s show.
While discussing the protests going on in Rochester over the George Floyd murder, Kimberly asked if a group of men beating a couple with a 2×4 were acting “N-wordly”, while Beck followed “If you look like a thug, act like a thug and you have three people beating a white woman with a 2 x 4, by god, you’re a thug.” The discussion also including asking whether they were allowed to call people “N-wordish”.
The comments were quickly received with backlash from throughout the community after being posted online, local politicians and other WAIO employees as morning co-host Deanna King tweeting, “I am appalled at what was said on The Kimberly and Beck Show. I have never and would never spew such racist hate. I’ve told management I won’t work at a company that employs people like this. I’m raising my children to love everyone and stand up for what is right. I will, too.
I am appalled at what was said on The Kimberly and Beck Show. I have never and would never spew such racist hate. I’ve told management I won’t work at a company that employs people like this.
I’m raising my children to love everyone and stand up for what is right. I will, too.— Deanna King (@CynicalMother) June 3, 2020
In a brief statedment, IHeartMedia Upstate New York Region President Robert J. Morgan wrote, “We made the decision to terminate Kimberly and 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.”
Kimberly and Beck joined WAIO in September 2014 after being fired from their morning show at Entercom Adult Hits “98.9 The Buzz” WBZA for hateful comments against the transgender community.
