The North Dakota television career of a West Virginia University graduate was short-lived.
A.J. Clemente was fired Monday morning, the day after using profanity during his first, and subsequently last, news broadcast. The video of the broadcast has gone viral.
Clemente didn’t know his microphone was on when he whispered the profanities on KFYR in Bismark, N.D. He initially was suspended Sunday night, when news director Monica Hannan wrote on the station’s Facebook page:
“I want to apologize for an incident that occurred prior to our early newscast this evening, when one of our employees used profanity on air. … He did not realize his microphone was on, but still, that’s no excuse. We train our reporters to always assume that any microphone is live at any time. Unfortunately, that was not enough in this case. We can’t take back what was said. The person involved has been suspended until we resolve the situation. All we can do at this point is ask for your forgiveness, and I can offer my personal assurance that I will do my best to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again under my watch.”
Station management fired Clemente Monday morning, at which time Clemente addressed the incident in two Tweets:
♦ “Unfortunately KFYRTV has decided to let me go. Thank you to them and everyone in ND for the opportunity and everyone for the support.”
♦ “Rookie mistake. I’m a free agent.Cant help but laugh at myself and stay positive.Wish i didnt trip over my “Freaking Shoes” out of the gate.”