A Los Angeles information anchor was fired after he slammed his personal station on-the-air for the way it dealt with his former co-anchor’s abrupt departure from the airwaves, a report mentioned.
Mark Mester, of KTLA, was suspended then given the boot after delivering a shock, off-script protection of former co-anchor and pal Lynette Romero — who wasn’t given the possibility to say goodbye on the air, a number of staff on the tv station instructed the Los Angeles Instances.
The station’s supervisor reportedly instructed newsroom staff of the termination throughout a brief speech Thursday.
The firing comes after Mester bid farewell in to his “greatest buddy” Romero in a section the place he mentioned it was “unlucky” how the station didn’t give her a “correct goodbye.”
“I need to begin off proper now by providing up an apology to you,” Mester mentioned to the viewers on Saturday. “What the viewers skilled was impolite, it was merciless, it was inappropriate and we’re so sorry.
“I additionally need to express regret to Lynette Romero as a result of Lynette, I really like you a lot, you actually are my greatest buddy. You didn’t deserve what occurred to you.”
Mester additionally talked about in the course of the monologue {that a} aircraft was flying over the station with a message of gratitude for Romero. Based on the LA Instances, the aircraft was employed by Mester with a banner that mentioned, “We love you Lynette.”
Mester needed to incorporate the footage of the aircraft in a compilation of photos and movies the station performed in the course of the farewell, the newspaper reported.
Producers wrote a script for Mester to examine Romero, staffers instructed the LA Instances, however as a substitute the anchor went rogue, saying he was appalled that Romero wasn’t given air time to inform the viewers she could be leaving.
“We’re going to give you dignity and style, which is what this station ought to’ve carried out from the start,” Mester mentioned in obvious defiance.
“You didn’t deserve this, we’re sorry, it was a mistake and we simply hope that you could find it your coronary heart to forgive us,” Mester added.
Romero, an establishment who was with the station for twenty-four years, left for an additional station after she unsuccessfully requested her bosses if she might work a weekday anchor shift as a substitute of engaged on weekends, the LA Instances reported.
“I’ll all the time be pleased about the love and affection LA viewers have given me,” Romero tweeted final week. “Keep tuned my mates I’ll be proper again.”
Mester was bothered by KTLA’s unique salute to Romero on Sept. 14, when reporter Sam Rubin mentioned Romero “has determined to maneuver on from anchoring our weekend morning information.”
“We actually needed her to remain, and KTLA administration labored laborious to make that occur,” Rubin mentioned, in response to the LA Instances. “Lynette determined to go away for an additional alternative.
“We had hoped she would document a farewell message to viewers, however she declined. Lynette has been a beautiful member of the KTLA household and we want her and her household one of the best.”
