San Antonio weatherman says MLK slur was mistake

KABB meteorologist Mike Hernandez is pictured with "Fox News First" anchorwoman Monica Taylor and former traffic personality Miriam Zamorano. KABB meteorologist Mike Hernandez is pictured with "Fox News First" anchorwoman Monica Taylor and former traffic personality Miriam Zamorano. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close San Antonio weatherman says MLK slur was mistake 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio weatherman apologized Thursday for using a “racially insensitive” term while referencing Martin Luther King Jr. Day during KABB FOX 29's morning broadcast.

Meteorologist Mike Hernandez referred to the upcoming holiday meant to celebrate the life of the civil rights leader as “Martin Luther 'coon' Day.”

The word has historically been used as a racist term to refer to African Americans.

The station issued an apology via their Facebook page and Hernandez later said he was sorry for what he claims was a mispronunciation.

Hernandez apologized to those who were offended by the mistake and told the San Antonio Express-News that he is mortified anyone would think he intended to use a the racial slur on the air.

It was “absolutely” a slip of the tongue, he said. “I would never ever, ever say anything like that intentionally. It just came out.”

Horace Brown, vice president for the San Antonio Branch of the NAACP, declined to comment on the incident.

Responses on social media erupted after the San Antonio FOX affiliate posted an apology to Facebook.

“Meteorologist Mike Hernandez unintentionally said a term when trying to reference Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This term is racially insensitive,” the station wrote. “We do not tolerate this language. We sincerely apologize to you, our viewers, for the use of this offensive language on our air.

“Please know that we take this seriously and we are taking action internally. We appreciate each and every one of our FOX San Antonio viewers and this in no way reflects the views of our station,” the post continued.

Hernandez said he meant to say “Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” which is Monday, but in his hurry to get it out, he misspoke. In every subsequent reference in the broadcast he made a point to say King's name “slowly and clearly,” he said.

KABB General Manager Dean Radla said he reviewed the tape and believes it was clearly a case of “Mike misspeaking.” Radla said his biggest concern is that “we don't want to offend anybody” who heard it.

Radla added that the station would issue an on-air apology during its 9 p.m. broadcast and on the morning show, “FOX News First” which airs from 5 to 9 a.m. on KABB.

Hernandez said he was meeting with station leaders Thursday to discuss the matter. Radla said the station was “handling it internally,” and that Hernandez would continue to do weather on KABB and fill in occasionally on its sister station, WOAI.

Before coming to KABB's weekend news some four years ago, Hernandez worked at WOAI (then KMOL) from 1989-99, and for years as the main meteorologist at an Albuquerque, N.M., station.

He said he didn't receive any calls or complaints at the station during the broadcast and continued with the morning show.

“I'm from the old school,” Hernandez, 57, said. “You make a mistake, you just keep going.”

kparker@express-news.net

Twitter: @KoltenParker

jjakle@express-news.net

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