Mississippi TV news anchor Barbie Bassett taken off air after quoting Snoop Dogg during broadcast
A Mississippi TV news anchor hasn’t been on the air since quoting a popular Snoop Dogg phrase on air earlier this month.
Barbie Bassett has not returned to NBC affiliate WLBT since the March 8 broadcast and is no longer listed as a member of the news team on the station’s website, the Clarion Ledger reports.
“As I am sure you can understand, WLBT is unable to comment on personnel matters,” Ted Fortenberry, the station’s regional vice president and general manager, said in a social media post.
Bassett was discussing the Snoop Dogg’s addition to his wine line.
Bassett used a phrase – which includes slang for the n-word – when the idea of a Snoop collaboration with a newsroom journalist was raised.
The station’s chief meteorologist as well as anchor, Bassett has previously caused controversy with a comment, referring to a black reporter’s “grandmammy” on air. She later apologized.
“Though not intentional, I now understand how my comment was both insensitive and hurtful. I have apologized to Carmen Poe,” Bassett said at the time.
“Now, I would like to apologize to you. 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.”
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.