A Los Angeles information station has fired an anchor after he defended a former colleague on air, calling the circumstances round her departure “merciless” and “inappropriate,” the Los Angeles Instances reported.
KTLA let go of Mark Mester on Thursday after he made an emotional apology criticizing how the station dealt with the exit of anchor Lynette Romero, who spent over 20 years on the CW affiliate.
The Instances cited sources on the station who stated Romero had needed to work weekdays as an alternative of weekends to be with household.
KTLA had instructed her the change wasn’t attainable, the sources stated, and she or he’s since been employed by native information station KNBC to work weekday mornings.
Throughout a Sept. 14 broadcast, KTLA reporter Sam Rubin learn an announcement from Pete Saiers, the station’s information director, about Romero’s exit.
Saiers stated that station administration had needed Romero to make a farewell recording however she declined, the Instances reported.
Mester, who has co-anchored exhibits with Romero, made his apology to viewers throughout a weekend morning present final week.
“What the viewers skilled was impolite. It was merciless, it was inappropriate and we’re so sorry,” he stated, saying that an airplane banner was flying over Hollywood with a parting message to Romero.
Addressing Romero, Mester stated: “You all the time discuss two issues: dignity and style. And that’s how we’re going to say bye to you right this moment. We’re going to give you dignity and style, which is what this station ought to’ve accomplished from the start. … You didn’t deserve this. We’re sorry. It was a mistake, and we simply hope that yow will discover it in your coronary heart to forgive us.”
You may watch clips of Mester’s remarks beneath.
Station workers instructed the Instances that after his on-air statements, Mester ignored administration’s name for a gathering, instructed a information director to “shut up” and refused to exit the station’s constructing.
Sources additionally referred to the previous anchor’s “disrespectful” habits towards ladies, the Instances stated, and acknowledged that he had “mood tantrums.”
KTLA viewers tweeted that they weren’t proud of the station’s choice to fireplace Mester.
HuffPost has reached out to each KTLA and Mester for remark.