CBS News
A North Dakota TV station has fired an anchor who swore during his inaugural anchor desk broadcast Sunday night.
A.J. Clemente was being introduced by co-anchor Van Tieu when he swore audibly during the 5 p.m. edition of the KFYR-TV news in Bismarck. He then stumbled through an introduction while trying to recover from his flub.
After the incident, Clemente said on Twitter his debut “couldn’t have gone any worse!” KFYR-TV news director Monica Hannan later posted an apology to viewers on the station’s Facebook page.
To all of you who are writing in…I want to apologize for an incident that occurred prior to our early newscast this evening, when one of our employees used profanity on the air.
He did not realize his microphone was on, but still, that’s no excuse. WE train our reporters to always assume that any microphone is live at any time. Unfortunately, that was not enough in this case. WE can’t take back what was said. The person involved has been suspended until we resolve the situation. All we can do at this point is ask for your forgiveness, and I can offer my personal assurance that I will do my best to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again under my watch.
It won’t happen with Clemente behind the desk: He was fired Monday. He announced that on Twitter, too.
Unfortunately KFYRTV has decided to let me go. Thank you to them and everyone in ND for the opportunity and everyone for the support.
— A.J. Clemente (@ClementeAJ) April 22, 2013
Rookie mistake. I’m a free agent.Cant help but laugh at myself and stay positive.Wish i didnt trip over my “Freaking Shoes” out of the gate.
— A.J. Clemente (@ClementeAJ) April 22, 2013
KFYR general manager Dick Heidt told CBS News he could not comment on the flub because it was a personnel matter. As footage of the incident went viral on YouTube, many viewers already were on Clemente’s side. The station’s Facebook page was filled with comments calling the incident an accident, imploring with the station to give Clemente another chance. A hashtag of #KeepAJ was popular on Twitter, as well.
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