‘I made a mistake’: Fired sports radio host says he was ‘horrified’ by on-air remarks about Serena Williams & Halle Berry’s skin
Axed sports radio host Rob Lederman, who was sacked over crass comments about skin color that included references to Serena Williams and Halle Berry, has issued a public apology, admitting his remarks were “foolish and ignorant.”
Loudmouth Lederman was embroiled in a scandal after comparing the darkness of toast to black women’s skin tones on the Morning Bull radio show on US station 97 Rock on Wednesday.
Describing his prefered toast color in reference to skin shades, Lederman namechecked the tennis and Hollywood superstars by saying: “I would never go to a Serena Williams level. But I’m very comfortable with a Halle Berry level.”
The show was removed from the radio station’s website after causing public outcry on social media.
Didn’t hear this live but internet keeps receipts. @97RockBuffalo morning hosts compared how they like their toast to black women’s skin tone. So just in case y’all missed it too, take a listen pic.twitter.com/6nVolu5a23
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) March 24, 2021
The racist commentary made on The Morning Bull show on 97 Rock is outrageous and intolerable. There is no place in our society for these statements or beliefs. I strongly condemn what these individuals said on the radio this morning.
— Byron W. Brown (@MayorByronBrown) March 25, 2021
Lederman was dismissed and his two co-hosts were suspended after several sponsors threatened to cut ties with the station in the wake of the scandal.
A day later, Lederman created a Twitter account to share a statement, saying he had “made a huge mistake.”
“I want to sincerely apologize for hurting people with my foolish and ignorant comments yesterday," he announced.
— Rob Lederman (@LedermanRob) March 25, 2021
This is a really great example of why we should give people an opportunity to learn and grow before we just send them to slaughter. If this is as sincere as I believe it to be, let’s allow some healing and growth and put an end to the constant condemnation that has occurred
— AimeeL (@LarsonAimee) March 25, 2021
"After listening to what I said, and how it must have sounded to others, I was horrified. I 100 percent understand why people are justifiably angry.
"I made a mistake and it’s hard to look myself in the mirror, but I want to acknowledge it. I apologize from the deepest depths of who I am."
Lederman claimed he wanted to educate himself so that the fiasco could "heal and not divide", adding that he was seeking "guidance and learning" from his "friends" in the African-American community.
You can do a million good things but all anyone will remember is your mistake. Lets not forget all the things he has done for charity. He made a mistake, he apologized, he wants to learn from it and he will.
— grace (@momjovi69) March 26, 2021
And now it looks like *YOURE* toast. 😉🤣 pic.twitter.com/lxleMtvffs
— Amanda Ocasio, MA(History),MA(Journalism) 🇵🇷😷🥄 (@byAmandaOcasio) March 26, 2021
"I ask for your forgiveness and I pledge to learn, to do better and to increase my sensitivity and understanding," he told "those who were hurt and those who don't know me."
"I want this to be the start of a learning process so that we, as a community, can become better.
"Please know that my comments were ignorant but not meant to be hurtful. I know that I, as well as many others, need to learn from this."
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, who Lederman said he had later contacted, called the comments racist and branded them "outrageous and intolerable."
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