Oklahoma meteorologist Mandy Bailey has been fired over a ‘hang in there’ riddle depicting a noose (see below).
Who knew a brain teaser could be offensive enough to get someone fired. The management at a local station in Oklahoma released a statement after firing the station’s meteorologist:
“On Monday morning, one of our employees at KSWO-TV displayed an image that was offensive and unacceptable. At KSWO, we do not tolerate behavior of any kind that depicts hatred, social injustice, racism or anti-Semitism.”
What the local ABC-affiliated station didn’t expect is the thousands of angry people commenting on social media and calling on the station to reinstate Mandy Bailey.
A Facebook page in support of Bailey was even started. Comments on Twitter were favorable and called on the station to reinstate Bailey:
Bailey is accused of playing a word game (photo below) with the word “THERE” with a noose hanging between the “T” and the “H.”
I don't normally get political on here but I can't hold my tongue on this one. @KSWO_7NEWS is going to try to ruin her over a word game? Shameful! The answer was hang in there by the way. Much more people love you and know you didn't mean anything by it. Hang in there Mandy. pic.twitter.com/Ad4lNsjVfL
— skywarndave (@skywarndave) February 12, 2019
Viewers complained the noose was racial in nature or that it mocked suicide.
KSWO’s statement said that “the employee responsible was terminated immediately.”
The eternally offended won again.
There’s a Change.org petition in support of Mandy Bailey that has 1,881 signatures and needs 2,500.
Let’s hope the station management comes to their senses and reinstates this employee ASAP.
