Weatherman Fired for On-Air MLK Slur
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A weekend television weatherman was fired after he made an on-air racial slur about Martin Luther King Jr. (search), station officials said.
Rob Blair (search) of KTNV-TV was delivering the extended forecast Saturday morning when he said: "For tomorrow, 60 degrees, Martin Luther Coon King Jr. Day, gonna see some temperatures in the mid-60s."
Jim Prather (search), vice president and general manager of the ABC affiliate, said Blair stumbled but the excuse was not enough to save his job.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"This kind of incident is not acceptable under any circumstances, and I'm truly sorry that this event occurred," Prather told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Blair apologized during the station's 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday newscasts.
"On a weather report earlier this morning, I made an accidental slip of the tongue when talking about the Martin Luther King holiday, and what I said was interpreted by many viewers as highly offensive. For that I offer my deepest apology. I in no way intended to offend anyone. I'm very sorry."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Blair worked at the station for about three months. He declined comment Monday when contacted by The Associated Press through a friend.