Whoopi GoldbergandCharlamagne Tha Godhave spoken out in defense of a Mississippi news anchor and meteorologist who hasn’tbeen on the air since quoting Snoop Doggduring a broadcast.
When a colleague joked about Bassettgetting a tattoo of the rapper, shereplied, “Fo shizzle, my nizzle,” a phrase that includes slang for the N-word.
Although the station has not commented publicly on the matter, herbio is not listed on WLBT’s website, and she has not been on the air since, according toThe Clarion Ledger.
As news of the story spread nationwide, both Goldberg and Charlamagne defended Bassett.
During Monday’s episode ofThe Breakfast Club, Charlamagne said that it was possible she had no idea what she was saying at the time.
“She might not even know,” he said. “She probably has no idea.”
Barbie Bassett.barbie bassett/instagram
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Bassett was also a topic of discussion onTuesday’s episode ofThe View.
Whoopi Goldberg.ABC/Jeff Lipsky
“There has to be a book of stuff that nobody could ever say, ever, ever, ever. Include everything,” said Goldberg, 67. “Include everything because I tell you, the things that change, ‘You can say this, but you can’t say that, but next week you might not be able to say this,’ it’s hard to keep up.”
“Just because we’re on television, doesn’t mean we know everything. We don’t know everything you’re not supposed to do,” Goldberg remarked. “And if there is something someone says, if you’re not going to give them the opportunity to explain why they said it, at least give them the grace of saying, ‘You know what? I’ve just been informed that I should not of done that,’ as opposed to, ‘You’re out.'”
RELATED VIDEO: Mississippi News Anchor Hasn’t Been On the Air Since Quoting Snoop Dogg During Broadcast
She added, “Saying ‘You’re out’ means you don’t want to hear what people have to say … that could have helped somebody else not make that mistake.”
Bassett has not spoken publicly about what happened and her current status at the station remains unclear.
Bassett’s most recent Instagram post, made on March 14, did not directly mention what happened, but featured a quote about being able to “withstand a storm.”
“That is not the heart of who I am. And for that, I humbly ask for your forgiveness and I apologize to everyone I have offended. I will learn from this and participate in training so I can better understand our history and our people,” she said at the time. “I pray you’ll forgive me and that you’ll extend grace through this awful mistake.”
source: people.com
