Al Roker defends TV meteorologist fired for allegedly using racial slur on air

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Meteorologist denies using racial slur on-air after firing

WHEC meteorologist Jeremy Kappell, was fired after allegedly using a racial slur on air, an allegation he vehemently denied. Kappell was reporting from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park in Rochester when viewers alleged he used a slur while saying the late civil rights movement leader's name.

NBC weatherman and personality Al Roker tweeted in defense of Jeremy Kappell, the meteorologist who was fired from WHEC after he allegedly used a racial slur on air Friday.

Roker tweeted Wednesday, “I think Jeremy Kappell made an unfortunate flub and should be given the chance to apologize on News10NBC. Anyone who has done live TV and screwed up [google any number of ones I’ve done] understands.”

Kappell was fired from the NBC affiliate on Sunday after the segment aired Friday. He was reporting from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park in Rochester, N.Y., when viewers alleged he referred to the park as “Martin Luther Coon King Jr. Park.”

METEOROLOGIST DENIES USING RACIAL SLUR ON-AIR AFTER FIRING

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren called for Kappell to be fired from the local station after the segment aired. Warren argued a larger issue of insufficient cultural sensitivity was illustrated by the station apologizing only after a backlash on social media.

Kappell retweeted Roker’s tweet. He has since apologized following the incident and explained himself multiple times the past week.

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"Unfortunately, I spoke a little too fast when I was referencing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," he said in a video posted on Facebook, "So fast to the point where I jumbled a couple of words."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.