Paul Allen is stepping away from his KFAN radio show for a few days after on-air remarks in which he suggested some protesters were “paid,” the Minneapolis broadcaster said in an apology aired Monday.
Allen’s comment — asking if “paid protesters” get hazard pay in cold weather — drew immediate backlash and prompted KFAN to run a taped apology before his program, in which he said, “I made comments on Friday about protesters and the weather that was insensitive and poorly timed, and I’m sorry,” according to the Star Tribune.
The Twin Cities paper reported KFAN announced Allen would “take a few days off” after the remarks, and other outlets including the Star Tribune sister coverage and Sports Business Journal summarized the network statement that his apology had been aired during a commercial break.
Allen is the longtime play-by-play voice associated with Minnesota sports radio and the Minnesota Vikings; the controversy followed demonstrations over the death of Renee Nicole Good during an incident involving ICE, which several outlets linked as the context for those protests, per The Guardian.
Local and national outlets documented the backlash, noting KFAN aired Allen’s apology in which he described his remark as “insensitive and poorly timed,” and that he would be off air for a short period while the station and Allen addressed the reaction, according to The New York Times and radio trade reports.
Commentary pieces and social posts picked up the exchange quickly; Talkers and Radio-Online published summaries of the apology and the leave of absence, and outlets including the Twin Cities Pioneer Press coverage recapped Allen’s wording verbatim.
Media-watch observers have noted similar patterns when high-profile broadcasters make offhand remarks that trigger public criticism; for context on how broadcasters and regulators sometimes respond, see reporting on possible FCC scrutiny of network coverage and how on-air figures have publicly apologized in other recent cases. For a recent example of a media figure publicly regretting on-air remarks, see Gavin Baker regrets tone, and for reporting on potential regulator attention to broadcast coverage, see Carr signals FCC may take action.
Sources
- Star Tribune — reported Allen’s apology and quoted his line that the comments were “insensitive and poorly timed” and that he would take a few days off.
- Twin Cities — published the station statement and noted the apology aired in a pre-recorded message before Allen’s show.
- The Guardian — linked the remarks to protests over the death of Renee Nicole Good and provided context for the demonstrations.
- Sports Business Journal — summarized the leave of absence and KFAN’s on-air apology.
- The New York Times — covered the broadcaster’s step away and the public reaction.
