Mississippi news anchor appears to be out of a job after saying, "Fo shizzle, ... trends now
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A longtime Mississippi news anchor appears to no longer be employed with the WLBT news team after quoting a Snoop Dogg lyric 'Fo shizzle, my nizzle ' deemed racially insensitive during an on air broadcast.
Barbie Bassett, a popular anchor and the station's first chief meteorologist in its 50 plus year history, hasn't been seen on the NBC-affiliate station since the March 8 incident. Her bio no longer appears on the company's website, The Clarion Ledger reported.
Her most recent comment comes only four months after she referred to her co-anchor, Cameron Poe's grandmother as 'grandmammy' - a term slaves used for their grandmothers - Poe is African American.
At the time, Basset apologized to the viewers and her co-workers for the offensive remark during the October 2022 broadcast, calling it 'insensitive and hurtful' and said she was going to participate in training to 'better understand our history and our people.'
After the firestorm, WLBT Vice President and General Manager Ted Fortenberry issued a statement on social media: 'As I am sure you can understand, WLBT is unable to comment on personnel matters.'
Morning news anchor Barbie Bassett is seen with her co-anchors during on-air broadcast. Bassett hasn't been seen on air since the March 8 incident after making