KGW-TV Issues Apology for Offensive Image
Portland, Ore. — KGW-TV, a television station in Portland, Oregon, issued a public apology on Friday for inadvertently broadcasting a racist image during a segment meant to highlight positive stories. The station displayed the offensive image on Thursday evening as part of their program “The Good Stuff,” which includes a segment called “Throwback Thursday” showcasing nostalgic viewer-submitted photos.
Station’s Regret
The image, dated back to the 1950s, depicted children throwing balls at a sign bearing a racial slur. In a statement posted on their website, KGW-TV expressed deep regret for the hurt caused by the image, particularly to members of the Black community among its viewers and staff. The station acknowledged the profound impact of the mistake and extended sincere apologies to those affected.
Policy Oversight
Despite having a policy of rigorously screening all content for standards and accuracy prior to broadcast, KGW admitted to a failure in upholding this standard in this instance. The station assured that internal measures were being taken to address the error and prevent such incidents in the future.
Community Reacts
Leaders of the Portland chapter of the NAACP, James Posey and Pastor J.W. Matt Hennessee, condemned the incident in a written statement, calling the image “explicitly racist” and urging KGW-TV leadership to clarify the circumstances surrounding the broadcast. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler also weighed in, demanding that the station take immediate action to address the issue and ensure that such offensive content is never aired again.
