You're Outta' Here..............
This from a tipster: Meteorologist Rhonda Lee of KTBS fired after she responded to facebook post when viewer called her the N-word; KTBS Crime Reporter Chris Redford fired for using facebook as well to respond to reported gay-stalker.
posted by ATN @ 9:43 PM
117 comments
117 Comments:
Oh, so that what happened with Rhonda and Chris? Sounds like a good way to get out of a contract or to leave a station/market you hate.
Was Rhonda just fired in the past few days? I saw her on a few days ago, but I thought she had already left a few weeks ago.
Wow... wonder what she posted to warrant that? Bet you this won't be the last we'll hear about this as she had filed a discrimination suit at a former station (KXAN). The ND was forced to resign as a result. One thing's for sure, she knows how to get a lawyer.
KTBS sure wasted no time removing her from the website.
That's too bad about Rhonda, I thought she was good.Chris Redford too was good at what he did. He got carried away and used influence with the police department to get charges filed on Michael Turney.As has been proven Turney will not be bullied by Redford or police.KTBS has been looking for a reason to be rid of them for awhile now.Both played right into it.
So much for their "storm team". I hope we don't have a weather outbreak anytime soon. Joe will be going solo.
So, does this mean we will start getting all the rumors again about Jennifer (will she be Gray or Reeves)returning again? I personally wish KTBS would throw some additional money and get Alexandra Cranford back.
When you go to the KTBS facebook page you see a bunch of white faces smiling at you.
Just the fact that KTBS had previously s&%t canned Mark Rowlett to bring Jen-Jen back is enough reason for me to not want her back.........
Alexandra is back home in NOLA so she will not be coming back to Shrevesburg. I am sure Jen has been offered her old job, but she would be stupid to move back here. She already has a good job there, plus far more opportunities then she would ever have here.
Since Redford is gone who will you bashers turn your attention to now?
Good question. I'm sure they are sharpening their knives right now.
Sorry to disappoint you, 10:53, but Redford has brought quite a bit of the criticism he receives on himself. It has nothing to do with his being gay, but all to do with his attitude.
Redford did a good job as crime reporter but he added considerable fuel to the flames of H8r's by getting involved in posting openly on forums like this. He always seemed too quick on the draw in responding to criticism and while it may have made him feel good about himself by responding, it didn't do much for his image overall. The Michael Turney thing is too weird for words. You keep showing up on radar like this and you don't help your image to your viewers and to your employer.
Anyway he's probably persona-non-grata local TV-wise. Time to move on to better, more positive ventures.
As far as Jen is concerned, anything's possible considering how KTBS management thinks/reacts or just reacts. It would have to be a heckuva incentive package I'd think. I mean considering how messed up KTBS is right now, I couldn't imagine tossing out a solid gig in Miami for something that could turn ugly (and often has) at KTBS.
Joe just needs to park a cot at the weather-desk and get a hot-plate with lots of coco and hunker down for the holidays. He ain't going no where. Of course we'll see more of Kordas & Neil probably.
I don't think it's a matter of Ms. Rhonda being able to pick good lawyers. Lawyers only take cases that are 99% winnable. So maybe she has damn good grounds for suits. The posts are still up on the KTBS fb page. Oct. 1 is the first date she got in trouble for posting, and Nov. 14 is the one she got fired for.
Redcford had and has a bad attitude to say the least.By spending money.MichaelTurney will come out of this just fine.He is an arrogant ass,but he is above this sort of thing.Do we know when this will go to court or has it been dropped?
Heather Tesch is available.
She wasn't that great. Here are how the weather people are rated for this market.
1. Kevin Roth
2. Joe Haynes
3. Todd Warren
4. Ron Young/Patrick Dennis (tie)
5. Skip Kordus
6. Steven Parr
7. Rhonda Lee
Watch channel 3 now like Joe and Skip. Used to watch channel 12 got tired of Steven Parr and all the editorials.
Does this list mean that only men are quality performers in the area weather?
How anyone can watch the weather on KSLA is beyond me. If it just sprinkles, they are ready to assume a tornado may develop.
I have to agree with 4:01.
Only men do a good job doing the weather I guess.
Ms. Lee was the first African-American Met. in this market. And this is how her station and the a-hole with the unsubstantiated "ranking" treat her? There are so few women in weather and they are given a hard time just about everywhere they go. I can't imagine what it must be like for a Black one. Now I see that she's had to sue before she got to this area?? God bless her and her family.
I agree with 4:59 in part. It seems Steven Parr is the one that crys wolf. The other 2 are good. I also agree with 3:47 about the editorials. I also quit channel 12 and went to channel 3.
I wish I was black so I could just sue if I get fired.
The first african amercan weather person at that station? Who the heck cares!!?
She is just a person, and it's just a job. It does not matter what color that person's skin is.
As far as her being a woman - again so what!? Look around your newsroom? Do you see more men or women? I bet you anything women outnumber the men in your building two to one.
I enjoyed Rhonda,she seemed to have a fun personality.Chris not so much,I never understood why he was in the news business.Certainly they will both be fine elsewhere and I wish them well.
5:36 You can be any race and sue if you have been discriminated against because of your race, and there is merit to your claim. You don't have to be Black.
Both were let go for violating station policy.Redford will say he was dismissed because he is gay and Rhonda because she is black.Redford has been embarrassingly gay for years and Rhonda has always been black.No merit to either claim.They violated policy.
Well I'm sure I've been passed over for a less qualified black applicant. What do you think my chances of a successful lawsuit are?
6:31 Why do you sound so sure that policy is the reason both were terminated? Do you have inside information?
Rhonda was enthusiastic and seemed to be a nice person on-air. We'll miss her weathercasts as they were a bright spot on KTBS. I'm sure that if she did anything to confront some racist remarks by an asshole, that the Wray family is probably uncomfortable with that. It's just how they're wired being old-family / old-money / old-Shreveport.
12:18 PM:
Actually lawyers don't take cases that are 99% winnable, they take whatever argument they think they can make it worth their while. I used to work for lawyers and they take cases based on what they feel they can get the other party to SETTLE for as most claims never wind up in court. I've seen arguments that you wouldn't think hold water legally but it doesn't matter. You get the other party to decide how much they want to spend either fighting or settling. Justice and ethics have little to do with anything regarding civil cases. Any other thinking is pure naiveté.
12:18 P.M. You use to work for lawyers? Your statement carries about as much weight as the commercial "I'm not a real doctor but I play one on TV"
Apologies 12:18.. the response to statement regarding "working for lawyers" should have been addressed to 7:21
If you knew what happened to cause Rhonda's law suit you would file one yourself. The ND in question almost had one filed against him at his previous station in Little Rock.
Does anyone know what Rhonda wrote on Facebook that got her fired?
Any word on replacements for Chris and Rhonda yet? The news team is extremely light right now.
TO 9:24 PM: I was an investigator for a number of legal firms, I've logged quite a few legal casesa and I do know WTF I'm talking about. So you can blow me.
I heard that.
9:31--
Someone made a comment in the Facebook page about the 3 minute smile being all black kids. She commented that race has nothing to do with it, more or less. Even though the comments weren't professional...I didn't think it was that bad. Never less, she was annoying as hell and I'm glad she's gone.
There's another person from KTBS who is also "Outta There". Did Judy Wagonner get fired like these other two did or did she quit?
Regarding Judy Wagoner, there's some mention of her leaving on the thread about Michael Turney / Chris Redford -- Inquisitor Headlines. Go back to earlier thread...here's the link:
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=9824194&postID=5319562650304607261
From what I gather, sources say that Wagoner had "attitude" towards the weekend staff and apparently nobody liked working with her. Rumor was she was about to get the axe so she quit instead.
1:18 December 1, Why would anyone want to touch you for any reason, let alone do what you suggest? classless
What was so annoying about Rhonda? I didn't see it. She was uplifting and comforting to watch. A real people person. If she's so horrible, then why is it when I'm out on stories do people CONSTANTLY ask me about Rhonda and how much they love her? One day I had to make a list of the people who just wanted me to tell her hello. And why A. Cranford over her? Her personality was of that of a dead fish. Nice girl, but people skills: ZILCH.
Rhonda crossed racial lines. One thing Shreveport has lacked in general. People who can effectively do that.
I think Rhonda was an ideal TV personality who happened to do weather. She was consistently energetic and engaging with her on-air colleagues, good ad-lib skills with the anchor and effective as a communicator. I mean since when is it a bad thing to have an on-air talent who is upbeat all the time? Beats whiney-sounding mannequins who are better known for their tight clothes and boobs than their on-air skills.
If a facebook post in response to a racial slur or any other petty actions warrants termination, what type of punishment does KTBS administer to employees that commit gross violations or actually break the law? A firing squad?
I found Rhonda to be very annoying. I did not want to see her get fired, but she could not make up her mind if she wanted to report the weather or be a comedian.
9:26 PM, December 01
Well whatever you may think of 1:18, I'd agree that he or she left no ambiguity by their comment to whomever to a shot about their working knowledge of lawyers.
I heard from a fairly good source that the Wrays are going to try to get Jennifer to come back.
I am sure the Wray's are trying to get her back. Even with the extra money they will throw at her, Jen would be stupid to move back here.
Jennifer??? Ok, how many times can you bring the same anchor back and still be taken seriously?? Can KTBS get ANY whiter than it already is?? An all-white news team in Shreveport can't last can it? What year am I in? So many questions?
They like to watch her move her money-maker on the greenscreen!
The news business is about making money first and reporting the news second. As long as KTBS continues to have good ratings, which drives up advertising $$$, then expect to see the black/white split for reporters stay the same. It looks, however, like the last two reporters KTBS hired were black.
Didn't the Wrays pay for Jennifer's meteorology education? Then didn't Jennifer leave KTBS after she had her credentials only to return to KTBS when KTBS axed Mark, a professional meteorologist? The Wrays' "investment" is not profitable to them if it remains in Florida.
Can Joe not find a qualified male meteorologist since it appears that he can't keep a woman meteorologist?
3:38 P.M. December 2 Did she kinda remind you of Al Roker, on NBC's Today Show? He not well liked either you know. "NOT"
Maybe "somebody" at KTBS is looking for a new girlfriend?
Hey Wray Family,
NEW A.M. FORMAT|| Stop the cut-in to New York, scroll the weekly temps across the bottom of the screen and save Joe for the evening report. SAVE YO $$$ in the A.M.
Hey Wray Family,
NEW A.M. FORMAT|| Stop the cut-in to New York, scroll the weekly temps across the bottom of the screen and save Joe for the evening report. SAVE YO $$$ in the A.M.
Please DO NOT bring Jennifer back!
KTBS has long developed a rep for having a revolving door staff-wise. It used to be a place where people worked until they retired but those days are long gone. And if you talk to any former workers there, most will tell you they're glad to be gone.
8:38 PM Well the employees who have been canned would say that, now wouldn't they?I am glad to see Chris Redford got what he has had coming to him for a long time.
10:30 PM
Not all former employees were "canned", some left on their own. Many simply got tired of the toxic atmosphere and quit. Two wound up working as co-anchors in a major market, one is working for NBC network. And they're just 3 out of the many.
"Someone made a comment in the Facebook page about the 3 minute smile being all black kids. She commented that race has nothing to do with it, more or less. Even though the comments weren't professional...I didn't think it was that bad."
Someone should've told her that it's all black kids before she made a fool of herself like that.
Who was the person doing the weather this morning on KTBS? Is he new or a sub?
Was it someone other then Neil Shaw or Skip Kordus?
@10:30 PM December 3, 2012
Your first statement is incorrect. I am a former KTBS employee who used to love their job. However, things have changed KTBS went from being the best place I have worked to the worst place I have worked. I found another job and left voluntarily. Only a couple of my former KTBS coworkers remain. They hate it and are actively looking for other jobs.
I guess Jennifer could come back, looks like she' s leaving Brad. She doesn't wear her wedding ring anymore on the Brewley commercials. And if her life is so go in Miami why do commercials here? Thlrd time is a charm.
Oh heck... I dunno, maybe it's because EH Spillers likes to get former KTBS on-air folks to do spots and if all she has to do is stand in front of a greenscreen in Miami for 10 minutes a time for X number of dollars to shill Beweley's...why wouldn't she do it? Monetizing the moneymaker folks. She is appearing on-air in a sportsfishing show in Fla. in addition to weathercasting on WTVJ. Uh... gee ya think she's not making some money for that too? And being single on TV in S. Fla vs single in Shrevesdump? Uh... no brainer ya think?
well everyone can take a breath cuz KTBS hired a new weather-dork:
Brian Fowler who came from Huntsville, AL at WAFF.
Even with Brian, they are still one weather guesser short........
That's where Neil & Skip will come in until and if they find someone else.
10:17 AM
You do realize that Gray can shoot her stand-ups for Bewley's in Miami and send them to their ad agency for production, don't you?
That has been brought up several time on multiple threads, but people still go on and on about it.
What about this new guy? I have not seen him yet. Will he be any good?
I guess some people must think the gameshows and soap operas are shot at KTBS too. Get a grip!
Loved Rhonda Lee! She was a breath of fresh air. I hope to see her on another local station. KTBS should have just suspended her, not terminated her. Please don't bring Jen Grey or Alex Crandford back-pretty, yes, but YAWN-boring!
Alexandra is back home in New Orleans and is NOT coming back to Shreveport. Despite the end of her marriage, Jen is living a very good life in Miami making more money, and has more personal and professional opportunities then Shreveport has to offer.
Roger That!
Any word where Judy Wagonner went?
Probably back to the pageant circuit. I think Judy still writes beauty column for The Forum.
She also owns or co-owns a skin laser / beauty spa in Monroe featuring a super-soft filter photo with her eyes retouched a la "glamour shotz" era.
Hadn't seen that look since the 80's.
http://www.professionallaser.com/judy.html
11:38 AM: While "dork" is a slang word for a stupid or inept person, similar to nerd or geek (which Brian Fowler has not shown himself to be), "dork" may also refer to vulgar slang for whale dick, penis, pecker.
Today's society is lacking couth!
5:58 PM, oh good lord, I've heard and read so much worse on this and other sites. Having worked at a few TV stations, weather-dork, weather-geek, weather-jerk, weather-dick (because a majority are males)...those are just a few terms used. Anchors are meat-puppets, prompter-divas, hair-spray cowboys, and worse. Couth..couth...couth...
Whoopee _______ doo!!
Ha, good one 6:17! And thank you for the first laugh of the day. I really needed it.
Watching the new guy now and he seems to be your typical am weather-geek. Can already tell I will easily sleep through his weather segments. Yawn.
To 6:17 PM: Your post confirms and solidifies the 5:58 PM post.
To 5:07 AM: Brian won't miss you. Go drool on your pillow!
If Rhonda was fired from KTBS, does that mean she is free to go to work at KSLA or KTAL if there is an opening over there?
Yeah, same for Redford I would guess. Not sure why either of them would want to stay in the port.
Could be but they will have to wait until the none compete clause expires.
5:07 will not be alone. Brian is a walking talking sleeping pill.
2:14 PM:
You sound like a person who hangs around a men's room but keeps complaining about the smell.
YaknowwhatImean?
Rhonda's replacement, Boring Brian seems nice and all, but I agree with some of the previous comments. He is just that, boring.
Any word on a replacement for Chris yet?
KTBS is checking the availability of E.T. as a replacement for Redford.
You mean they're talking with Liz Swaine?
Who does KTBS plan to use when Chrissie Coile goes on maternity?
Rhonda was fired after a viewer commented about her hair being unfit for the workplace. She responded that she was proud of her natural hair & wanted to be a role model to other little Black girls and was not interested in chemically straightening her hair. Its really is sad that so many women feel pressured to straighten their coils and kinks but when they have the courage to be who they are they are criticized...
I applaud her for being strong, but Facebook was not the place to respond to such ignorance.
News Blues has something on Rhonda Lee....anyone know exactly what they are saying?
Rhonda was on CNN this AM with Soledad O'brien:
http://startingpoint.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/12/fired-for-defending-her-hairstyle-on-facebook-ex-ktbs-meteorologist-rhonda-lee-other-people-are-given-platforms-i-was-given-a-pink-slip/?iref=allsearch
Betcha she'll have Gloria Allred repping her for a lawsuit. Any takers?
I hope she does, and I hope she wins a huge settlement.
I just watched the CNN interview and I hope Rhonda gets big shot lawyers knocking at her door! She is just precious and smart.
NEWSFLASH: Early rumors are Michelle White Laftitte is no longer with KTAL 6. Details to follow as more becomes known.
Maybe she can take Rhonda's place and do the weather. She couldn't screw that up any worse than she did the news.
Oh yes she could.
Rhonda was just on The Ed Show on MSNBC.
I think MeeShell will lay-low and wind up doing some glorified PR job somewhere. There are still plenty of clueless managers who buy into the schmooze and the "oh look you were on Tee-Vee", like that carries any real weight.
The KTAL/MeeShell thread is that way. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Check this link, Rhonda still appearing on national cable tv programs & webmedia.
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/12/20/louisiana_tv_station_fires_black_meteorologist
Seen it. Still on Rhonda's side.
Dear Santa,
Rhonda stated that she liked her hours and her co-workers, and she would like her job back. KTBS should re-hire Rhonda Lee, and both Rhonda and KTBS start 2013 anew.
Since Christmas is a magical time, can you make it happen,
Santa?
A Viewer
Sirven would never go that route.
End of story.
Of course he won't, and that is why his dwarf ass is going to pay.
Oh this will be settled eventually but it will wind up costing KTBS money. Their ego will get in the way but eventually Edwin will see the legal costs involved and figure it's best to quit while they're behind.
Money is the only thing he's ever really concerned about anyway.
NEWSFLASH: Chris Redford has just posted on his website that he will now be working for THE INQUISITOR beginning Monday, Jan. 31st as a reporter / photographer
CORRECTION: That's DEC 31st
Good, now Redford can talk s!#t about everyone.
NEWSFLASH: Redford announced recently he will no longer be reporting for "The Inquisitor" and instead work with homeless / wounded vets with the Volunteers of America.
He only has to pass a "background check".
UPDATE: 12/25/2012 – Exclusive Meteorologist Rhonda Lee fails to disclose knowledge of viewer’s mental illness in hair debate.
Read the article at:
http://digitaltexan.net/2012/austin-local-news/austin-weathercaster-rhonda-lee-fired-racist-allegations/article44078/
Even the comments weren't professional...I didn't think it was that bad. Never less, she was annoying as hell and I'm glad she's gone.
regards
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