In a recent incident that sparked outrage, a radio host from New York was dismissed after making racist remarks regarding celebrated actress Halle Berry. The former host of 97 Rock, Rob Lederman, drew an offensive comparison between the skin tones of Black celebrities—including Berry, Serena Williams, and Gayle King—and the settings on a toaster. Yes, you read that right.
After a clip of his comments went viral, Halle Berry took to Twitter to express her disgust. “Disgraceful,” she tweeted. “It’s absurd that such ignorance is still allowed on airwaves. ALL Black women are beautiful and deserving, Rob Lederman. Get out of here!”
The controversy escalated when ESPN reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques shared a clip where Lederman could be heard suggesting that he might face backlash for his comments. He went on to discuss his “attractiveness scale” in a manner that trivialized the skin color of these influential women. “I will never reach a Serena Williams level, but I’m comfortable at a Halle Berry level,” he stated, adding that Gayle King was not even on his “toaster level.”
Louis-Jacques condemned Lederman’s comments, highlighting the stigma associated with darker skin tones and how such remarks perpetuate damaging stereotypes. It wasn’t long before Lederman was fired by Cumulus Media, the broadcasting company that oversees 97 Rock, which stated that his remarks violated their programming principles. His co-hosts received suspensions, though the duration is still unclear.
In the aftermath, Lederman issued an apology on Twitter, acknowledging the hurt his “foolish and ignorant” comments caused. He expressed a desire to learn from the mistake and mentioned reaching out to local African-American community leaders for guidance. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown also condemned the remarks, emphasizing that such beliefs have no place in society.
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Summary
Halle Berry condemned DJ Rob Lederman for making racist comments comparing her and other Black celebrities to toaster settings. Following public backlash, Lederman was fired, and his co-hosts faced suspensions. The incident highlights the continuing issue of racism in media.