Two members of the “Island 98.5” KDNN Honolulu morning show have been let go after mocking a singer’s struggle with homelessness and childhood hunger while growing up.
‘Slick Vic’ Harris and ‘KreyZ’ Oshiro were hosting a radiothon for The Hawaii Foodbank when after a story from musician Paula Fuga describing that she dealt with homelessness and hunger as a child. Mocking her for eating out of a trash can, Harris asked whether she ate right out of the can or put it on a plate first. When she asked for tissues she was offered a trash can just in case she was hungry. Fuga would walk off in tears stating “Kids, even as an adult, there will still be jerks who make fun of you and your pain. I mean, what the hell is your problem? I’m so sad right now. I don’t want to sing.”
Video of the segment is embedded below.
iHeartMedia and Fuga are going to work on a coordinated campaign “that will support a statewide mission to end hunger in Hawaii”.
The third member of the KDNN morning show, Rory Wild, remains with the station.
Normally, I am a huge critic of “cancel culture”. But, in this case, I will make an exception: these dismissals were appropriate. Only a totally immature, insensitive a-hole would think that it’s funny to mock someone for being destitute. And, they could have stopped after the first quip, but no – they went on and got even more insulting. Total scumbags.
Good luck with whatever podcast you come up with guys and good riddance!
Wow. That was next-level cruelty. Absolutely the right call to fire them quickly. That has no place.