A.J. Clemente’s first words as an anchor on a live news show were a bit blue – and there was no time for beeping.
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Everyone’s first day is stressful. You want to make a good first impression, and there’s so much to learn, from where the bathrooms are to what the company’s policy on leave applications are.
Unfortunately for A.J. Clemente his first day ended on a bad note – and some bad words.
Clemente was starting as a news anchor for KFYR-TV in North Dakota and as his colleague introduced him, he apparently did not realize the camera was rolling and his microphone was on.
Seen sorting through notes on the table and saying “Okay – f***ing s***”, Clemente is clearly oblivious to being on air live.
“That couldn’t have gone any worse,” Clemente tweeted after the Sunday evening broadcast. He was immediately suspended, and was later fired.
“He (Clemente) did not realize his microphone was on, but still, that’s no excuse. We train our reporters to always assume that any microphone is live at any time. Unfortunately, that was not enough in this case. We can’t take back what was said,” KFYR-TV news director Monica Hannan said on the station’s Facebook page.
“The person involved has been suspended until we resolve the situation. All we can do at this point is ask for your forgiveness,” she added.
The day after the incedent Clemente tweeted again, telling his followers he was out of a job, describing himself as a “free agent” who was trying to “stay positive”.
“Unfortunately KFYRTV has decided to let me go. Thank you to them and everyone in ND (North Dakota) for the opportunity and everyone for the support,” Clemente tweeted.
What do you think? Was this the right action for the station to take, or should they have shown a little leniency?
