A Mississippi news anchor was taken off-air after she recently quoted Snoop Dogg lyrics during a live broadcast.
Barbie Bassett was a news anchor at NBC affiliate WLBT until she made the on-air mishap on March 8.
The Clarion Ledger has reported that Bassett - who is also a meteorologist and owner of a dermatology clinic - was removed from the news station's website following the incident.
Ted Fortenberry - the station's regional vice president and general manager - sent an email statement to the New York Post this weekend, where he stated: "As I am sure you can understand, WLBT is unable to comment on personnel matters."
Bassett's gaffe was made after the news team was discussing the latest addition to the 51-year-old rapper's wine line, Cali.
When one of the journalists suggested collaborating with someone in the newsroom, Bassett stated: "Fo shizzle my Nizzle."
"Nizzle" is often used by Snoop as slang for the N-word - something Bassett, who is white, even tweeted in 2011. Though, this isn't the first time Bassett has come under fire for things she's said.
In fact, the journalist caused controversy when, in 2022, she was forced to apologize after referring to a Black reporter's "grandmammy" on air.
"Though not intentional, I now understand how my comment was both insensitive and hurtful. I have apologized to Carmen Poe," Bassett said, via WLBT. "Now, I would like to apologize to you. That is not the heart of who I am. And for that, I humbly ask for your forgiveness and I apologize to everyone I have offended."
Bassett continued: "I will learn from this and participate in training so I can better understand our history and our people. I can't mend the hurt my comment caused. I pray you'll forgive me and that you'll extend grace through this awful mistake."
Popular radio host Charlamagne tha God said on his show The Breakfast Club that he didn't believe Bassett should have been fired for her comment, stating: "I don't think she should have been fired for that. She might not even know what 'nizzle' means, yo. Come on, like stop. That's not a reason to fire that woman."
Social media users have obviously rushed to Twitter to comment on the situation, with one person writing: "I'm cringing just as much because she used slang that hasn't been in circulation since the Bush administration."
"V interesting reading the comments. As a white Kiwi I had no idea what it meant. But as a front line tv presenter, she needs to prepare, and part of that is ensuring anything she says is referenced and appropriate. Ya dont just blurt something out on live tv like that [sic]," another comment read.
"Welp, I just read the story. She's been reprimanded in the past for saying something racist on air and had to apologize in 2022. The network was finally over it," a further user added.
Others didn't see the big issue with it, saying: "To be fair though, Snoop has spent his entire career selling a lite form of street life to [white] people. How could she know???????"
What do you think of the situation? Let us know in the comments!
