Rockford NAACP demands action over WIFR news anchor Andy Gannon's use of racial slur
ROCKFORD — NAACP Rockford Branch President Rhonda Greer is demanding disciplinary action be taken after longtime WIFR-TV anchor Andy Gannon on Monday morning used a racial slur on air.
Gannon said the slur was a slip of the tongue while trying to say "Negro League" during a story about White Sox great Minnie Minoso's induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame
Greer told the Register Star that she accepts Gannon's on-air apology issued during the noon newscast hours after the incident Monday. But she said more is expected of Rockford's news outlets. She said they can't allow it to be "swept under the rug."
"It has to be not only corrected, but acknowledged," Greer said. "He did apologize, but the community is still bothered by it."
In an open letter to the Rockford community, Greer stopped short of calling for Gannon to be fired. She instead asked the station to place the morning news anchor on suspension. Greer said it was a way to acknowledge the severity of the incident while recognizing what she viewed as a sincere, if somewhat delayed, apology.
In an email, Gannon said he could not comment further on the situation, referring inquiries to station Vice President and General Manager Tim Myers or News Director Maggie Hradecky.
Myers shared the following statement with the Register Star on Wednesday:
"A WIFR employee uttered a racial slur while referencing a player on The Negro Leagues during a newscast on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. We have determined that the utterance was inadvertent. We apologize for the harm and distress that this incident caused our viewers.
"To be clear, WIFR and its parent company, Gray Television, finds any use of that word inappropriate, unacceptable and unprofessional. Appropriate action has been taken in response to this incident. Due to our company policy, we cannot make any further comment on this personnel matter."
Gannon has not appeared on the morning broadcast since the incident.
Gannon offered "profound apologies" for the misstep.
"Earlier today on 23 News This Morning, I inadvertently and accidentally said a clearly offensive and derogatory word," Gannon said during a news cast at noon Monday. "It was a mis-speak, but it was spoken. And for that I sincerely apologize."
Jeff Kolkey: jkolkey@rrstar.com; @jeffkolkey
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Andy Gannon Rockford, IL: WIFR-TV anchor apologized for racial slur
