MAN!! Here we go again. Bob Beckel, the second best part of “the Five,” has been canned. AGAIN…
“Bob Beckel was terminated today for making an insensitive remark to an African-American employee,” the network said in a statement.
DAMMIT BOB!!!
Fox News’ human-resources department was made aware of a complaint about what one person familiar with the situation characterized as a “racially insensitive remark” on Tuesday evening. Executives conducted an internal investigation, this person said, and decided to part ways with Beckel Friday morning.
This is such a foolish thing to do in a time when Fox News is under intense scrutiny over sexual harassment and racial discrimination charges. Dammit Bob!!!
Obviously I didn’t agree with him on nearly anything political, but he was very entertaining and a great counterbalance to the unceasing witless Trumpery of Jesse Watters and Kimberly Guilfoyle. He will be missed.
Also, Fox News, if you want a person of color to replace him and prove your commitment to diversity… ahem… I’ll send a resume over pronto…
UPDATE:
Here’s a little more detail.
Beckel stormed out of his office because client, a black Fox IT staffer entered – citing the man's race – per staffer's atty Doug Wigdor
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) May 19, 2017
Wigdor is representing a group of former and current Fox News employees suing the network.
UPDATE:
OH. Here’s a LOT MORE detail:
Fox News fires Bob Beckel, the dyspeptic token liberal host on primetime show the Five for making "insensitive remark" to black colleague
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) May 19, 2017
2/ New HR regime installed after sexual harassment accusations agst Ailes et al but must be seen in light of racial bias suits vs Fox
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) May 19, 2017
3/ Beckel has previously said wince-inducing things on the air, including an anti-Asian slur (Beckel is even cited on slur's Wikipedia page)
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) May 19, 2017
4/ Beckel was an original host of the 5 hired by Ailes, was fired earlier citing substance abuse issues, not remarks.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) May 19, 2017
5/ Given Beckel's firing, worth watching how remarks on air treated in new regime.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) May 19, 2017
6a/ New 5 host Jesse Watters offered tepid sorta kinda apology for offensive Chinatown segment; Fox HR exec Lord met with AAJA after.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) May 19, 2017
Jesse Watters has insensitive comments ON A SEGMENT THAT AIRED, but hey, he can stay as long as he has the Donald’s love-stink all over him still.
7/ expect to see Fox's Juan Williams, who alternated w Beckel in that liberal slot on the 5, to get more time. Others may share seat too.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) May 19, 2017
Beckel stormed out of his office because client, a black Fox IT staffer entered – citing the man's race – per staffer's atty Doug Wigdor
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) May 19, 2017
2/ Wigdor is now representing 23 clients who have made accusations against Fox – the majority of them centering on racial bias.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) May 19, 2017
3/ Wigdor also alleges Beckel tried to intimidate IT staffer to withdraw complaint – right in front of chief HR exec Kevin Lord.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) May 19, 2017