Baltimore TV station WJZ has fired anchorwoman Mary Bubala for asking a question perceived to carry racial overtones and gender bias. Bubala was talking live on-air with Loyola University Maryland Professor Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead last week about a recent political scandal that ultimately saw current Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh resign. Bubala then asked Whitehead whether it was time for a change. “We’ve had three female, African-American mayors in a row,” Bubala said. “They were all passionate public servants. Two resigned, though. Is this a signal that a different kind of leadership is needed to move Baltimore City forward?” Whitehead was clear: No, it does not suggest a different kind of leadership was needed. She later sent a statement to the Baltimore Sun newspaper amplifying her point. “The current conversations around leadership in Baltimore are challenging, emotional, and at times include layers of racism and sexism. There is an assumption that since three black women have served as mayor — and the city has not entirely changed for the better — then perhaps black women are not fit to lead this city. No one can ask racially biased questions in the public sphere — including in the media — without being held accountable.” On Monday night, an email went out from the TV station. “Mary Bubala is no longer a WJZ-TV employee. The station apologizes to its viewers for her remarks,” the statement said. The TV anchor subsequently sent out an apology via Twitter. “Last week I realized I made a mistake in the language I used on air. I immediately apologized for any hurt I unintentionally caused. I received immediate support from WJZ because they knew it was not in my heart to intentionally cause this kind of harm. I wanted to do an on-air apology but was not allowed. I hope that the people of Baltimore know that I would never do anything to hurt anyone.<doc-sep>A Baltimore TV station has dismissed one of its anchors after she drew intense criticism for a question she posed about the race of the city's past three mayors. “Mary Bubala is no longer a WJZ-TV employee. The station apologizes to its viewers for her remarks,” WJZ-TV said in a statement to The Hill. The Baltimore Sun first reported that Bubala was no longer employed by the station. Bubala confirmed her departure on Tuesday, saying in a statement on Facebook that "WJZ was forced to let me go" because of the mistake in the language she used on air. ADVERTISEMENT "I am saddened and shocked by this decision," Bubala said. "I fully intend to fight to restore my reputation because I’ve invested my heart and soul in my work and my city. Thank you Baltimore for all of your support during this difficult period of time. It means so much to me.” Bubala's dismissal came days after she appeared to link the race and gender of the last three Baltimore mayors after two resigned, while one decided not to pursue reelection. “We’ve had three female, African-American mayors in a row,” Bubala said while speaking with Loyola University Maryland professor Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead. “They were all passionate public servants. Two resigned, though. Is this a signal that a different kind of leadership is needed to move Baltimore City forward?” Soooooo this happened following the resignation of #Baltimore Mayor #CatherinePugh. URGH!‍♀️‍♂️‍♀️‍♂️ I'm not even sure I want to hear the excuse for this. I'm cringing and cursing. (Reposting video from @AndreShowell) pic.twitter.com/DPZfdnedFP — Nicki Mayo (@nickimayonews) May 3, 2019 Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, an African American woman, resigned last week amid a scandal involving the selling of children's books she wrote. The question Bubala posed drew swift backlash after Nicki Mayo, a former president of the Baltimore Association of Black Journalists (BABJ), posted a video of the segment on Twitter. Bubala shared an apology on Twitter last week. However BABJ demanded an an-air apology from the station, adding that the "question, apology, cultural disconnect and gender insensitivity lead to a growing question about WJZ’s commitment to responsible journalism." A sincere apology pic.twitter.com/gV4dz7CFkd — Mary Bubala (@MaryWJZ) May 3, 2019 “Firing or letting her go does nothing to relieve the greater problem here," Mayo told the Sun. "So, I don’t take any joy in another journalist not working.” --Updated 2:43 p.m.<doc-sep>Screenshot : WJZ Video What’s irrefutable is that Catherine Pugh, the embattled former Baltimore mayor who recently resigned after a children’s book scandal destroyed her political career, fucked up. Advertisement But are her failures as an elected official in any way, shape or form related to, or reflective of, her standing as a black woman? Of course not. Unfortunately, the Baltimore Sun reports that longstanding WJZ anchorwoman Mary Bubala was unable to differentiate between the two and recently came out her neck spewing some racist nonsense that belongs as DVD bonus footage in 2017's Get Out. On Thursday, while discussing Pugh’s resignation on air, Bubala offered the type of pointed critique reserved for plantation owners and White House potlucks. “We’ve had three female, African-American mayors in a row. They were all passionate public servants. Two resigned, though,” Bubala said. “Is this a signal that a different kind of leadership is needed to move Baltimore City forward?” Advertisement As social media became inundated with outrage and calls for her job, Bubala took to Twitter to offer a “sincere apology” that was too little, too damn late. Advertisement Soon after, the Baltimore Association of Black Journalists issued a statement expressing concern for the “well-being of the Baltimore black community” and condemning her behavior as “racist and sexist. ” From there, it was only a matter of time until the inevitable firing happened. Cue WJZ general manager Audra Swain: “Mary Bubala is no longer a WJZ-TV employee. The station apologizes to its viewers for her remarks.” Advertisement In an email to the Baltimore Sun on Tuesday, Bubala confirmed that she had, in fact, been voted off the island. “In my 22 years of working in TV news in Baltimore—15 of those years with WJZ—I have always treated people with the utmost respect and dignity. I loved my job because I love the people of Baltimore. Last week I realized I made a mistake in the language I used on air. I immediately apologized for any hurt I unintentionally caused,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, I now stand in the path of the tornado. WJZ was forced to let me go. I am saddened and shocked by this decision [...] I fully intend to fight to restore my reputation because I’ve invested my heart and soul in my work and my city.” Advertisement Pugh’s predecessor, former Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, took to Twitter to applaud the station for its decision. Advertisement “Didn’t think WJZ was gong to do the right thing,” she tweeted on Tuesday. “Her statement was problematic on many levels and revealed a profound ignorance.” Meanwhile, former BABJ president Nicki Mayo offered her own opinion on the matter. Advertisement “This was another ceremonial falling on the sword that continues to cut a serious hole in efforts for newsroom inclusion and diversity,” she told the Sun. “She messed up. I get it. But you know that line, ‘The mouth speaks the truth of the heart?’ She told you how she feels.” Bubala joined WJZ in 2003. During her 22 years of working in TV news in Baltimore, she was nominated twice for regional Emmy awards in 2016 and won once for Outstanding Anchor. Advertisement In preparation for her forthcoming job hunt, reportedly she’s updated her resume with technical skills like “ignorant.”<doc-sep>
WJZ Fires Longtime Anchor Mary Bubala Following Controversial On-Air Comments WJZ-TV on Tuesday confirmed they have parted ways with longtime anchor Mary Bubala following a controversial question to an on-air analyst. "Mary Bubala is no longer a WJZ-TV employee," vice president and general manager Audra Swain said in an email. "The station apologizes to its viewers for her remarks." Following Mayor Catherine Pugh's resignation last week, Bubala asked Loyola professor Karsonya Wise Whitehead about the city's future in a question some took as racist. "We have had three African American female mayors in a row," Bubala said. "They were all passionate public servants. Two resigned, though. Isn't it a signal that a different kind of leadership is needed to move Baltimore City forward?" Soooooo this happened following the resignation of #Baltimore Mayor #CatherinePugh. URGH!????‍??????‍??????‍??????‍?? I'm not even sure I want to hear the excuse for this. I'm cringing and cursing??. (Reposting ? ?video from @AndreShowell) pic.twitter.com/DPZfdnedFP — Nicki Mayo (@nickimayonews) May 3, 2019 The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists took issue with Bubala's question. "This question implies race and gender are qualifiers in one's ability to lead while also demonizing African Americans and women as poor leaders," the organization said in a statement Monday. "We feel certain Bubala would not have asked this same question of white male leadership." The statement called for either her or WJZ to acknowledge her mistake on air, and said the implicit bias in her interview should be "addressed company-wide" at the station. Bubala apologized on Twitter the day after the on-air incident. In a statement on Facebook, Bubala confirmed she had been fired and apologized again for the language she used. She said WJZ did not allow her to apologize on air. A sincere apology pic.twitter.com/gV4dz7CFkd — Mary Bubala (@MaryWJZ) May 3, 2019 "Unfortunately, I now stand in the path of the tornado," Bubala said. "Baltimore City has been my home for 25 years and I treasure and am so grateful for the relationships I have made with the people of Baltimore during this time. I fully intend to fight to restore my reputation because I’ve invested my heart and soul in my work and my city. Thank you Baltimore for all of your support during this difficult period of time. It means so much to me." Former Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Pugh's predecessor, said on Twitter that the CBS-owned station did the right thing. "Her statement was problematic on many levels and revealed a profound ignorance," Rawlings-Blake said. Bubala came to Baltimore in 1997 as an anchor and reporter for WMAR-TV, leaving that station in 2001 and joining WJZ in 2003. She was nominated for two regional Emmy awards in 2016, and was awarded one for outstanding anchor.