An ABC-affiliated news station in Oklahoma fired a meteorologist Monday after viewers complained about a brain teaser aired by the employee that included a drawing of a noose.

“On Monday morning, one of our employees at KSWO-TV displayed an image that was offensive and unacceptable,” the Lawton station’s management team said in a statement posted to Facebook. “At KSWO, we do not tolerate behavior of any kind that depicts hatred, social injustice, racism or anti-Semitism.”

The post has received of thousands of angry comments calling on the station to reinstate meteorologist Mandy Bailey, who is accused of playing a word game on air that showed the word “THERE” with a noose hanging between the “T” and the “H.”

The answer was “hang in there,” but some viewers reportedly complained the noose was racially insensitive or making light of suicide.

Without naming Ms. Bailey, KSWO said in its statement that “the employee responsible was terminated immediately.” Her KSWO staff page and professional Facebook page have been deleted and her Twitter bio altered to no longer mention her former employer.

“On behalf of all of the employees at KSWO, we offer you our sincere, heart-felt apology with a promise that we will continue to work tirelessly to earn your trust every day,” the KSWO statement concluded.

A Facebook group called “BOYCOTT KSWO” gained nearly 2,500 members as of Tuesday afternoon. A Change.org petition urging the station to “bring back” Ms. Bailey also fetched more than 600 signatures.