Worst First Day Ever: Rookie TV Anchor Fired for Profanity in First Newscast

[The Straight Story]

A first day at a new job is always bound to be a bit tough, maybe riddled with some rookie mistakes. Unfortunately for A.J. Clemente, his first-day blunders ended up getting him fired.

The young broadcaster’s new gig as an anchor for North Dakota NBC affiliate KFYR ended almost as quickly as it began after he was heard mumbling a few choice words (for example, an f-bomb) in the first seconds of the station’s evening report. His (now former) co-anchor Van Tieu attempted to recover after the quiet outburst, but what resulted was an obviously strained, tense segment.

“That couldn’t have gone any worse!” Clemente tweeted afterward, acknowledging his mistake. Turns out he was rehearsing some of his material and didn’t realize his mic was on. Though it sounds like he utters the word “gay” along with his swear words, he clarified on Twitter that he was trying to pronounce the name of London Marathon winner Tsegaye Kebede.

The news station offered an apology for the incident a few hours later, during the 10 p.m. newscast. Clemente also apologized on Twitter:

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/04/23/worst-first-day-ever-rookie-tv-anchor-fired-for-profanity-in-first-newscast/

[BeyondGeography]

1. Instant classic

[dballance]

2. Obviously Too Stupid to Even Be on TV

He continued to look down and mumble though the other anchor had clearly started the broadcast. Also, he should have been hearing something in his ear-piece that let him know they were on-air. If he can't handle that he shouldn't be there.

I guess people should start treating microphones like guns. Always assume the mic is live - always assume a gun is loaded.

[nolabear]

4. Actually he's been on multiple national shows today and seems a fine guy.

He openly admits he messed up, not knowing the mic was on. The show began thirty seconds before they expected it to, and he was looking down and didn't see the camera light. He'd been trying to pronounce the names in a story he was about to read and was having trouble with them, hence the unintentionally aired profanity. I saw him on a couple of morning shows and he's humble, not at all angry or judgmental about having been fired, and says he hopes to make the best of it and try again. He read a couple of bits on the shows and did just fine.

So the "obvious" isn't always correct.

[dballance]

6. Okay. In Light of More Information I'll Concede Your Point.

I'm not always right and I know it.

[nolabear]

8. ...

[randome]

7. Good catch. I hope the guy can recover his career.

[Beaverhausen]

10. Thanks for that info

I can't help but feel bad for the guy.

[Electric Monk]

3. Old. This has even been overplayed on Letterman.

[brooklynite]

5. But look at the GOOD SIDE of the story...

He'll have a killer demo tape for his next interview.

[RagAss]

9. HAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAA !!!!

Aboard the shitcan express in 5 seconds.