Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > December > 01
Saturday, December 1, 2007
12/1: Fired WGCL anchor Cari Champion calls into WSB-AM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former WGCL-TV weekend anchor Cari Champion, whose debatable use of an obscenity on air led to her firing last month, called WSB-AM Thursday night to talk for the first time about the situation. (She emailed Richard Prince at the Maynard Institute Web site earlier in the week, first presenting her case.)
Mark Arum, subbing for Chris Krok, defended her, thinking it was overkill, even if she did accidentally utter the “MF” word (though she said it was “mothersucka.”) He noted that nobody complained and it happened at 11:17 p.m. on a Sunday night long after the kids were in bed and outside the purview of FCC regulations.
Champion said the letters “f” and “s” “often do sound similar.”
I listened to the audio and honestly, it’s a close call what she said. You could reasonably interpret it either way.
She did say she shouldn’t have even said “mothersucka.” “I was under the impression we were in between commercials and the mike was dead. I know all the rules… Sometimes you forget. We as humans make mistakes.”
“It’s heartbreaking,” she continued. “I’m really starting out in my career. I really want a second chance. I will be the first to say it wasn’t right.”
“I believe I’m valid in my decision to fight and protest it.”
“I’m just trying to deal with it. I love what I do. I’m very passionate about what I do. Everyone who knows me knows I care about this business. I care about freedom of speech and people waying whatever they want to say. This is the first real test in my life. We’ll see how it goes. I’m just going with it day by day. I really want my position back. I care about the station and everything I’ve been through. I love it here. I think there was a misunderstanding… I can’t change everybody’s opinion.”
Since this is a personnel matter, news director Rick Erbach last week declined to comment.
