US radio host fired after disparaging comments aimed at female reporter: 'Insulted and embarrassed'
By Suzy Monzer|
US radio host Michael Sorce จC who is known by his radio name Don Geronimo จC ?has been fired over on-air remarks he made about sports reporter Sharla McBride.
As the reporter arrived to report on ?NFL team The Commanders' training camp, WUSA9 Washington D.C. reporter McBride found herself on the receiving end of some disparaging comments.
"When I heard the comments made about me on the radio show, I felt incredibly insulted and embarrassed," McBride told ESPN in a statement.
"In my 17 years as a professional journalist, I have never been disrespected in such a blatant manner while trying to do my job. Their words were sexist and misogynistic. No woman should experience this in the workplace, and I appreciate the Commanders swift response in handling this matter."
Watch the video above.?
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While speaking with co-host Crash Young, Sorce shouted, "Hi, Barbie girl" as McBride walked past him and also yelled, "I thought she was a cheerleader" at McBride.
Later in the broadcast the radio host addressed his co-host and said "Oh, hey, there's that chick" with some other inaudible commentary.
The WBIG-FM host was working at the training camp as part of a collaboration between the team and ?iHeartMedia
In a statement to The Washington Post?, the Aaron Hyland, iHeartMedia's D.C. regional president confirmed Sorce's termination.
"After an internal review, Don Geronimo is no longer an employee of WBIG," Hyland said. "We take matters of this nature very seriously and this behaviour does not align with our core values."
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A Commanders spokesperson also made a statement on the matter, noting: "We were confident that iHeart would address this swiftly and are pleased that they did."
McBride also responded to the finding on her Instagram account, posting ?a story with snippets of news reports on the result.
"Right now, I have no statement on the firing of Don Geronimo." she wrote. "I'm taking a few days off to process the events which have unfold in the past 48 hours."
"Thank you for all of your support," she added. "It means a lot."?
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Prior to Sorce getting fired, he and his co-host had been banned from the training camp while the investigation was underway. The station was also barred from airing a previously recorded interview with new owner Josh Harris.?
"When I heard the comments made about me on the radio show, I felt incredibly insulted and embarrassed," McBride told ESPN in a statement.
"In my 17 years as a professional journalist, I have never been disrespected in such a blatant manner while trying to do my job. Their words were sexist and misogynistic. No woman should experience this in the workplace, and I appreciate the Commanders swift response in handling this matter."
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