Another storm is brewing around the upstate New York meteorologist who lost his job after using what many believed to be a racial slur on the air.
»PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Weatherman in western New York fired after racial slur
Jeremy Kappell is suing the city of Rochester and its mayor, Lovely Warren, who he says defamed him when she said Kappell used a racial slur while on the air nearly a year ago, according to a suit filed Monday, the Democrat & Chronicle reported.
"As a result, not only have I lost a job and potentially a 20 year career," Kappell wrote in a Monday blog post. "But my family's name has been permanently tarnished.
Credit: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Credit: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
"Because of her actions, my family and I have suffered greatly these past many months," Kappell continued. "And unfortunately she has taken zero responsibility and has shown no willingness to move towards a resolution. She left us with no other option."
On Jan. 4, Kappell appeared to say, "Martin Luther Coon Jr. Park" when referring to Rochester's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, named after the civil rights leader.
Watch Kappell tell his side of the story:
According to the legal documents posted to Kappell's blog, the weatherman was an "exemplary" employee during his time at WHEC (Channel 10), beginning in 2017, until the January incident, which he attributes to having "suffered a linguistic error causing him to momentarily bridge two words together, before immediately correcting himself."
The documents state that no one at the station "took issue with the error or noted any issues with the broadcast" until Jan. 6 — and again on Jan. 10 — when Warren alleged that Kappell had actually used a racial slur "with intent to do so."
»FROM JANUARY: Another newscaster uses slur in Martin Luther King Jr.'s name; NAACP wants him fired
City Council President Loretta Scott also called for the station to fire Kappell, and he was dismissed Jan. 6.
According to a statement from city officials, released after the filing, WHEC fired Kappell before Warren and Scott got involved.
Credit: Paras Griffin
Credit: Paras Griffin
In April, Kappell sued the NBC affiliate, general manager Richard Reingold and the station's parent company, Hubbard Broadcasting, for terminating him after the incident, as well as alleged breach of contract, defamation of character and infliction of emotional stress.
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