TV anchor fired for suggesting Baltimore needs a change from black female mayors
A Baltimore TV anchor has been fired after suggesting the city needed a “different kind” of mayor after three black women had held the post.
Mary Bubala, 49, was fired from WJZ after 15 years at the station following a huge backlash from her comments while covering the recent resignation of Mayor Catherine Pugh amid a corruption scandal.
“We’ve had three female, African American mayors in a row,” the anchor said on-air.
“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?”
After an outcry, she later tweeted a “sincere apology,” insisting the “question did not come out the way I intended.”
“I am so deeply sorry and sincerely regret the words I chose,” she wrote.
However, WJZ general manager Audra Swain confirmed to the Baltimore Sun that “Mary Bubala is no longer a WJZ-TV employee.”
“The station apologizes to its viewers for her remarks,” Swain added.
Bubala posted to Facebook after her firing, insisting that it was not in her “heart to intentionally cause this kind of harm.”
“Unfortunately, I now stand in the path of the tornado,” she wrote.
“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.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images