Broadcasters fired after comments about 'Espanol people' during high school game

Broadcasters were heard during an online stream

FOREST CITY, Iowa – Two radio broadcasters have been fired after they were heard on a live feed making inappropriate comments about an opposing team’s Hispanic high school basketball players.

Orin Harris, a longtime radio personality in Forest City and board operator, Holly Jane Kusserow-Smidt, were heard talking about “Español people” before Forest City’s game against Eagle Grove on Nov. 28.

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Harris and Kusserow-Smidt were commenting on the game during an online stream for the radio station, KIOW.

The way these people talk about eagle grove is absolutely disgusting pic.twitter.com/ruwCeO3tHm

— Sadie Stuhr (@sadie_stuhr) December 4, 2017

They got into a conversation about the Hispanic players on the team. Deadspin.com transcribed the conversation.

Harris: The first three names we gotta remember are Enzo Gebara, Spencer Espejo, and Nikolas Padilla for Eagle Grove. They have a lot of … um, apparently…
Kusserow-Smidt: Español people.
Harris: Español people in Eagle Grove.
Kusserow-Smidt: Gee, I wonder why that is?
Harris: I wonder why.
Kusserow-Smidt: But the latest there is that they’re just going to gradually come into town, yeah right.
Harris: Uh huh.
Kusserow-Smidt: Uh huh.
Harris: Gradually work their way in.
Kusserow-Smidt: Gradually work their way in … so, who are these people again?
Harris: Oh, you wanna know the names? Enzo Gebara, Spencer Espejo, and Nikolas Padilla.
Kusserow-Smidt: They sound like they’ve been here a while, given the first names.
Harris: Yea, I think they’ve been there. Padilla, I think that’s P-A-D-I-L-L-A.
Kusserow-Smidt: Yea, Padilla.
Harris: Padilla, something like that.
Kusserow-Smidt: Yea.
Harris: The there’s Chase Blasie, he sounds like he’s not a foreigner. Could be though.
Kusserow-Smidt: Yea.
Harris: They’re all foreigners.
Kusserow-Smidt: Exactly, all foreigners.
Harris: As Trump would say, go back where they came from.
Kusserow-Smidt: Well, some would say that, yeah, some days I feel like that too. 

The segment never aired on the radio station because it was during a commercial, but it was heard online and then posted on Twitter.

The audio clip went viral and KIOW fired both broadcasters. The station also released a statement in regards to the incident:

On Tuesday, November 28th, two employees of KIOW made comments that were insensitive, thoughtless and degrading to others. These comments were deplorable, and the staff and management of KIOW in no way condones or supports these comments. These comments never aired on KIOW Radio. They did, however, appear on a video feed that appeared on a school website. That night when we learned of these comments, we were in contact with the Eagle Grove School District and gathered information about the incident. On Thursday morning, November 30, a letter of apology was sent to school officials, along with details of our actions in regards to the two employees involved. As a result, both employees have been fired from their positions with the station. KIOW Radio has a long history of promoting and supporting student athletes, coaches and schools. As a company, we take great pride in spotlighting the great efforts of our local citizens, schools and communities, and we will demand that all company employees adhere to this policy. 

KIMT-TV in Mason City, Iowa reported that Kusserow-Smidt works as a third-grade teacher at Forest City Elementary School, and she has been placed on administrative leave.

Harris spoke to KIMT on Monday evening and issued a public apology. “I’m sorry. I’ve disappointed all my family and friends,” Harris told the TV station.


About the Author:

RJ Marquez is the traffic anchor/reporter for KSAT’s Good Morning San Antonio. He also fills in as a news anchor and has covered stories from breaking news and Fiesta to Spurs championships and high school sports. RJ started at KSAT in 2010. He is proud to serve our viewers and be a part of the culture and community that makes San Antonio great.