Two white news anchors in Arkansas were suspended and their boss has been fired after they wore afro wigs in an on-air segment to celebrate the end of a heatwave as temperatures dropped into the 70s.
The ABC affiliate in Little Rock suspended anchor Chris May and meteorologist Barry Brandt for wearing the wigs during the 10 p.m. newscast. The station also fired its longtime news director.
The network also said they are implementing further training for sensitivity and workplace conduct to make sure incidents like this don’t happen again.
The punishments were handed out after a local activist complained to the station saying she was "not amused" by the segment and that a white person wearing an afro wig is a perpetuation of “systemic racism.”
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