KGW-TV in Portland, Oregon, issued an apology on Friday for airing a racist image during a segment of its program “The Good Stuff.” The image, which was shown during a “Throwback Thursday” segment, depicted children throwing balls towards a sign with a racial slur.
In a statement posted on its website, KGW-TV expressed regret for the hurt caused by the image, particularly to members of the Black community. The station acknowledged that the image should not have been broadcast and apologized to those who were affected by it.
The station stated that it has a policy of thoroughly screening all content for standards and accuracy before broadcast, but failed to uphold this policy in this instance. KGW-TV said that it has taken internal steps to address the mistake and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Leaders of the Portland chapter of the NAACP, James Posey and Pastor J.W. Matt Hennessee, expressed their dismay over the incident and called on KGW-TV to provide clarity on how and why it happened.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler also called on the station to address the issue and ensure that such a mistake does not occur again. The airing of the racist image has sparked outrage and demands for accountability from the community.
KGW-TV’s apology and commitment to addressing the mistake are steps towards acknowledging and rectifying the harm caused by the incident.
