Halle Berry has branded a radio presenter's comments "disgusting" after he spoke on air about how he used the skin tones of different Black women to judge toast.
While presenting on the 97 Rock show Morning Bull in Buffalo, New York, radio host Rob Lederman was speaking about his desired toaster settings, using the skin tones of different Black celebrities as a warped example.
Talking on air on Wednesday (March 24), he said: "See we have ours – and I may get into trouble for this – I have them to the attractiveness of women that I find to be attractive. So I will never go to a Serena Williams level… But I’m very comfortable at a Halle Berry level."
"Gayle King is not even on my toaster level," he added.
The comments were later recorded and shared to social media by ESPN reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques, who shared a 40-second clip on Twitter along with the caption: "Didn’t hear this live but internet keeps receipts.
"@97RockBuffalo morning hosts compared how they like their toast to black women’s skin tone. So just in case y’all missed it too, take a listen."
Slamming the derogatory comments, Louis-Jacques added: "There’s already an unfortunate and undeserved stigma attached to dark skin - so for Rob to take something undesirable like burnt toast and compare it to the skin color of any person is reprehensible and feeds into that stigma."
Actress Halle Berry also shared her thoughts on the broadcast with her 390,000+ followers, writing: "Disgusting. It’s ridiculous this type of nonsense is still being broadcasted across airwaves. ALL Black women are beautiful and worthy, Rob Lederman. GTFOH [get the f*** outta here]."
Per USA Today, broadcasting company Cumulus Media confirmed that Lederman was "swiftly terminated" from the New York-based station for violating the company's "programming principles."
Additionally, Lederman's co-hosts - Chris Klein and Rich "Bull" Gaenzler - have been suspended, local news station WKBW has reported.
In a statement posted to his Twitter account, Lederman said that he was "horrified" after listening to the segment back and offered an apology to "those who were hurt".
"I want to sincerely apologize for hurting people with my foolish and ignorant comments yesterday," he said.
"I 100% understand why people are justifiably angry. I made a mistake and it's hard to look myself in the mirror, but I want to acknowledge it. I apologize from the deepest depths of who I am."
Lederman added that he had reached out to the NAACAP, his friends in the clergy from the African-American community, and the Mayor's office, in an effort "to seek their guidance and teaching."
Following the fallout, the station has not only had companies and organizations pull their advertising, but Lederman has also been terminated from his role as the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bandits' arena host by Pegula Sports & Entertainment.
