A US news anchor has reportedly been taken off air after quoting Snoop Dog during a live TV broadcast.
The incident came earlier this month, when Barbie Bassett appeared on NBC affiliate WLBT on March 8.
The hosts were discussing the rapper and musician’s Cali wine range, when the presenters raised the idea of collaborating with him.
Discussing the topic, Bassett said: “Fo shizzle, my nizzle.”
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“Nizzle” is slang for the N-word. The saying was popularised by Snoop Dogg and features in his 2002 song 'Suited ’n’ Booted'.
As the Clarion Ledger reports, Bassett is no longer listed as a member of the team on the station’s website.
“As I am sure you can understand, WLBT is unable to comment on personnel matters,” Ted Fortenberry, the station’s regional vice president and general manager said in a statement to The New York Post.
The news has provoked reaction online, and American radio host Charlamagne tha God was one figure who came to her defence.
“I don’t think she should have been fired for that,” he said on The Breakfast Club.
“She might not even know what ‘nizzle’ means, yo. Come on, like stop. That’s not a reason to fire that woman.”
© Provided by Indy 100 The host has reportedly been taken off air after making the remarks (Getty/WLBT)
Bassett also caused controversy last October, when she referred to a Black reporter’s “grandmammy” while on air.
“Though not intentional, I now understand how my comment was both insensitive and hurtful. I have apologized to Carmen Poe,” Bassett said about her colleague.
“Now, I would like to apologize to you. That is not the heart of who I am. And for that, I humbly ask for your forgiveness and I apologize to everyone I have offended.”
She continued: “I will learn from this and participate in training so I can better understand our history and our people. I can’t mend the hurt my comment caused. I pray you’ll forgive me and that you’ll extend grace through this awful mistake.”
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awoodby on March 26th, 2023 at 18:54 UTC »
Mind you, fox Should have fired people when they were calling Obama's wife his "baby mama".
hoyfkd on March 26th, 2023 at 17:04 UTC »
That's fucked up. Is she a racist? If she is, fine. If she isn't, don't treat her like just because she made a mistake. I had no idea that was "slang for the n word." Has, literally ANY racist stood outside yelling NIZZLE at black people as a racial slur? I haven't heard of it.
I hope Snoop pulls a Snoop and does the above-and-beyond good guy thing and publicly calls out the station and defends the anchor here. This is the lunacy that gives the far right a sliver of solid ground to stand on while spouting their bullshit. A stupid example to say "SEEE WE TOOOOLD YOU!!!" Being oblivious is not the same as being racist.
Ok-Taste-570 on March 26th, 2023 at 16:19 UTC »
This is not going to go well for the news station. Release the Snoop….