George Floyd's death has sparked furious protests across the US.
George Floyd's death has sparked furious protests across the US.
Two popular radio hosts are under fire after making "unbelievably vile, racist" comments on their show.
In a broadcast today, 95.1 radio anchors of the "Kimberly and Beck" program – owned by iHeartRadio – were discussing the violent riots that are raging across the US after George Floyd's death, specifically in their local city of Rochester.
Kimberly began talking about the bashing of a local woman that happened in Rochester at the weekend, and questioned if the black men allegedly involved in the crime were acting "N-wordly".
She didn't use the 'N' word, instead saying: "N-wordly", with Beck replying, "Yeah. They were acting thuggerly".
Kimberly and Beck from New York radio show 95.1 FM are facing the sack for 'racist' comments they made on air. Photo / Facebook
"You can't say that!," an unnamed contributor of the show quickly said. "Also stop saying thugs, that's part of the problem."
Beck doubled down, saying: "They're thugs. If you look like a thug and act like a thug, and you're three-on-one beating up a white woman with a two-by-four, you're a thug."
Adding further fuel to the fire, Kimberly finished saying: "People in the black community would say they're acting N-wordly."
The hashtag #firekimberlyandbeck is littering Twitter, with celebrity gossip guru Perez Hilton leading the charge.
"IMPORTANT!!! I need your help! These @iHeartRadio hosts from Rochester, New York, are unquestionably racist! On-air! Disgusting!," he wrote on Instagram. "Listen to them in their own words and then call, email, tweet and show up at @radio_951 until Kimberly & Beck are fired! This cannot and will NOT be tolerated! I am heated!!!!!!"
OMG! These racist radio hosts from Rochester, New York, "Kimberly & Beck", were previously fired from another radio station for being transphobic!!! @iHeartRadio, these two HAVE TO GO from @Radio_951!!! https://t.co/Jy1dh0UHzy
@iHeartRadio@Radio_951 I am disgusted by the conversation that Kimberly and Beck had on air today!! Racism is not ok! Calling people “N-Wordy” is FOUL. Is this what you stand for? #firekimberlyandbeck
New York State Assembly candidate Alex Yudelson also called on the station to fire the pair.
"Today, I was sent an audio clip of Radio 95.1 hosts Kimberly and Beck using language that is so vile and racist, I could not believe my ears," he said.
"The events of recent days across our country – from our President to local radio hosts – have shown how far we have to go as a country in combating both individual and structural racism.
George Floyd's death has sparked furious protests across the US.
"iHeartRadio should terminate Kimberly and Beck immediately. The community of Frederick Douglass deserves better."
Their segment comes a day after the station's official Twitter page posted a tweet in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
