News anchor suspended for '2020 takes Alex Trebek, leaves Mitch McConnell' post, Internet says give him a raise
A Milwaukee news anchor has been suspended over a mean social media post. The anchor has been taken off air for the post where he questioned why the host of 'Jeopardy!' Alex Trebek died this year while Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is still alive and well. The main anchor for WITI, Ted Perry, was suspended by the Fox News-operated station for his Facebook post.
The post had been shared on Perry's personal Facebook page post the death of Trebek who died on Sunday, November 8, at the age of 80 due to pancreatic cancer, sources revealed to The Post on November 13.
In the since-deleted post, Perry had written, "2020 takes Alex Trebek but leaves Mitch McConnell? Just end already." Following the controversial post, Perry had to shut down his Twitter account as well as his Facebook page. He still has a Facebook page which is via the Fox affiliate but has not posted anything there since Saturday, November 14.
Sources shared that it is unclear as to when Perry will be back on the news. Perry took to Facebook as well as Twitter to apologize for his post where he received a lot of backlash. According to the Journal Sentinel, just hours later, he took down the post.
Perry's apology message had read, "I made a statement on my personal page that was insensitive and does not reflect my journalist values and I was not speaking on behalf of my employer. I deeply apologize for my inappropriate and outrageous comments and have deleted them accordingly."
The Journal Sentinel had reported that Perry, an Illinois native, had joined the station back in 1993, according to his bio. It is currently not known whether he will be paid during his time off.
The news of his suspension left social media divided with some users agreeing that the suspension was right and others criticizing the decision to suspend him. One user who disagreed with the suspension shared, "yes, he should be fired and hired at a better news station with a big fat pay raise. glad we agree."
Another wrote, "This suspension is unfair. This is something millions of people would like to know." Yet another user commented, "No, he isn't wrong. The sooner Trump is gone, the better for all of us. Why are good people like Trebek gone before their time and people like Turtle Mitch still here?"
yes, he should be fired and hired at a better news station with a big fat pay raise. glad we agree.
β Post-Spooky Brian π (@ravenologies) November 14, 2020
This suspension is unfair. This is something millions of people would like to know.
β Tee Said It (@TeeFromTheLou) November 14, 2020
No, he isn't wrong. The sooner Trump is gone, the better for all of us. Why are good people like Trebek gone before their time and people like Turtle Mitch are still here?
β Verlonda Kirchner (@VerlondaK) November 14, 2020
However, a few social media users were of the other opinion. One such user had written, "That's not nice. It would be terrible to say that 2020 should take this journalist slowly, painfully, horribly - in front of his helpless loved ones. Again, that would be a terrible thing to say. It would not be in keeping with his journalistic values."
Another shared, "I mean, maybe it was a little thoughtless of him. But I noticed the only time Trump fans care about someone being nice is when itβs in regards to one of their own but no one else." Yet another commented, "2020 takes Paul Hornung but leaves Ted Perry? Just end already. #SeeHowThatSounds."
Thats not nice. It would be terrible to say that 2020 should take this journalist slowly, painfully, horribly - in front of his helpless loved ones. Again, that would be a terrible thing to say. It would not be in keeping with his journalistic values.
β Call Me Al-Elect (@adetocqueville) November 13, 2020
I mean, maybe it was a little thoughtless of him. But I noticed the only time Trump fans care about someone being nice is when itβs in regards to one of their own but no one else.
β Josh Ells (@JosheyElls) November 14, 2020
2020 takes Paul Hornung but leaves Ted Perry? Just end already. #SeeHowThatSounds
β ApricotTot (@TotApricot) November 14, 2020