Tanasia Kenney,Miami Herald•October 2, 2020
An Emmy-nominated sportscaster in Connecticut is out of a job after referring to Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) as an “Uncle Tom” in a since-deleted Twitter post.
News 12 Connecticut announced anchor Fred Gerteiny’s firing in a statement Wednesday, condemning his “racially insensitive” comment aimed at Scott, the GOP’s sole Black senator.
“After reviewing the incident, the network released sports reporter Fred Gerteiny,” the station said in a statement. “News 12 Networks has a zero tolerance policy for racism or improper conduct based on race, and prides itself on being an objective and unbiased multi-platform news company.”
Gerteiny was responding to a story from The Hill on Scott, who said he believed President Donald Trump “misspoke” when he told the Proud Boys, a “pro-western fraternity” the Anti-Defamation League has labeled a white supremacist group, to “stand back and stand by” during Tuesday’s presidential debate with Joe Biden.
“White supremacy should be denounced at every turn,” Scott told reporters Wednesday. “I think the president misspoke, and he needs to correct it. If he doesn’t correct it, I guess he didn’t misspeak.”
“Thanks Uncle Tom,” Gerteiny commented under the story, using the derogatory term to describe someone seen as betraying their race/culture by being overly servile to white people.
Privately, Tim Scott expressed concern with Trump debate answer on white supremacists
The reporter later apologized for his remarks.
“Earlier today, I tweeted a racially insensitive comment, when I referred to @SenatorTimScott as an ‘Uncle Tom,’ ” Gerteiny tweeted, according to The Hill. “I apologize to the Senator, my colleagues @News12CT, and anyone else I may have offended with this deeply offensive tweet.”
The sportscaster’s Twitter account has since been deleted.
“White supremacy should be denounced at every turn,” Scott told reporters Wednesday. “I think the president misspoke, and he needs to correct it. If he doesn’t correct it, I guess he didn’t misspeak.”
“Thanks Uncle Tom,” Gerteiny commented under the story, using the derogatory term to describe someone seen as betraying their race/culture by being overly servile to white people.
Privately, Tim Scott expressed concern with Trump debate answer on white supremacists
The reporter later apologized for his remarks.
“Earlier today, I tweeted a racially insensitive comment, when I referred to @SenatorTimScott as an ‘Uncle Tom,’ ” Gerteiny tweeted, according to The Hill. “I apologize to the Senator, my colleagues @News12CT, and anyone else I may have offended with this deeply offensive tweet.”
The sportscaster’s Twitter account has since been deleted.
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