“hard to keep up”

television

by Brook Cato

March 28, 2023 | 4:05 p.m

Whoopi Goldberg has come to the defense of disgraced weatherwoman Barbie Bassett.

Goldberg criticized a Mississippi news station’s decision to fire Bassett, ostensibly because the anchor carried Snoop Dogg’s lyrics live.

On Monday’s episode of “The View,” Goldberg insisted that “just because we’re on TV, doesn’t mean we know everything.”

“We don’t know everything you’re not supposed to do,” she said earlier this week, taking a jab at NBC’s WLBT during her critique routine.

Bassett, the Jackson Network’s first chief meteorologist, was left from her desk after uttering a racial epithet — “fo shizzle, nizzle” — on air while reporting on rapper Snoop Dogg’s latest addition to his Cali wine line.

After the on-screen misstep, which quickly spread on social media, Bassett was removed from the station’s online team page and has been absent from the broadcast since March 8.

Goldberg, 67, said it’s “hard to keep up” with the seemingly ever-changing social rules of what people can and can’t say — especially “if you’re a person of a certain age.”

“There should be a book of things no one can ever say,” Goldberg said. “Things that change, you can say this, but you can’t say that, but next week you may not be able to say this. It’s hard to keep up.”

If someone slips up, they should “at least” be allowed to take responsibility, Goldberg continued, admitting—as she has herself many times—”You know what, I was just told I shouldn’t do it.”

She concluded, “Because saying ‘I’m out’ means you don’t want to hear what people say or what mistakes they might make that can help someone else not make that mistake.”

The Washington Post has reached out to Bassett for comment.

The screen star knows a thing or two about on-air blunders — and public apologies. Goldberg used a Roma slur while debating former President Donald Trump earlier this month. It also attracted controversy last year after the use of a Holocaust slur led to a temporary suspension from The View.

Countless others showed their support for Bassett after she was removed from the network.

Radio announcer Charlemagne Tha God rushed to the news anchor’s defense on his syndicated radio show “The Breakfast Club” last week, saying, “I don’t think she should have been fired for that.”

“You probably don’t even know what ‘hostel’ means,” he added. “Come on, like stop. That is no reason to expel that woman.”

WLBT has not issued a public statement on the matter; However, Ted Fortenberry, the station’s regional vice president and general manager, told The Post that WLBT “cannot comment on personnel matters,” adding that its “policies are clear” and “they are fully communicated to all team members” through “resources and training.” arrivals.”

Fortenberry concluded, “WLBT enforces all station policies in a fair and equitable manner.”

For her part, Bassett also refrained from public comment on the incident and only posted Coded quote on Instagram referring to the ability to “withstand this storm”.

Bassett ex He issued an on-air apology in october 2022 for referring to a black reporter’s grandmother as “Grandma”.

Although it was unintentional, I now understand how insensitive and hurtful my comment was. “I have apologized to Carmen Bow,” Bassett said, referring to her aggrieved colleague.

Bassett continued, “Now, I would like to apologize to you. This is not the heart of who I am. And for that, I humbly ask your forgiveness and apologize to all those I have offended.”

She added, “I will learn from this and participate in the training so that I can better understand our history and our people.” “I cannot repair the damage my comment caused. I pray that you will forgive me and that you will grant grace through this terrible mistake.”