Peter Akman, via Twitter

A veteran journalist at the Canadian English language television network CTV has been fired after making a racist joke about coronavirus and his Asian barber, reports the BizPac Review.

Peter Ackman sent out a photo of himself with a barber wearing a mask and the caption “Hopefully ALL I got today was a haircut.#Coronaoutbreak. #Coronavirustoronto.

The tweet created a firestorm.

There is no possible way this should be acceptable. #cdnmedia pic.twitter.com/vcQliVrYmL — Alexander Quon (@AlexanderQuon) January 26, 2020

They deleted the tweet. This is a CTV journalist taking a selfie with an Asian hairdresser, tweeting implying they hope they only got a haircut and not the Coronavirus, from them in this Asian establishment. That is just a little bit racist @PeterAkman @CTVToronto @CTV_PR @CTVW5 pic.twitter.com/vkTz7vMejM — ArcticSkyWolf ? Call of Doo-Doo: MawZone (@ArcticSkyWolf) January 26, 2020

Akman deleted the tweet four hours after it was posted. He describes himself as an investigative journalist, blogger and dad who speaks for those who can’t.

#ImaJournalistBecause…

I want to speak for those who can’t…

I want to push out silence and lies…

I want to shine light in dark corners…

I want to ensure OUR freedoms remain strong and unfettered.

Your trust keeps me pressing ahead. #WorldPressFreedomDay pic.twitter.com/puA1d5l2XI — Peter Akman (@PeterAkman) May 3, 2018

He apologized and called his tweet insensitive.

https://twitter.com/PeterAkman/status/1221543374492225538

However, the apology only sparked a second wave of tweets condemning his actions.

Apologize to your barber. A journalist should know better the effect of inflammatory cheap shots at your target/subject/object — Liz RainbowTravel (@LesbianTravel) January 27, 2020

Right, the barber was helping patrons feel more comfortable so you made a racist joke about him. Cool. — Sentry202 (@Sentry202) January 27, 2020

It wasnt insensitive. It was straight up racist. — meg fenway (@megfenway) January 26, 2020

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