AN ANCHOR has been taken off the air after she quoted the rapper Snoop Dog on live TV earlier this month.
Barbie Bassett used a slang term derived from a racial slur while on air at the Mississippi-based NBC affiliate WLBT.
The station's chief meteorologist said "for shizzle my [expletive]," while joking about the possibility of a newsroom collaboration with the rapper on March 8, AL.com reported.
The conversation arose from a discussion of a new wine Snoop Dogg has released.
After Bassett's comment, her co-host Patrick Ellis looked shocked as he leaned over the desk.
Online, many have speculated that Bassett was fired over the comment.
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She's no longer listed as a team member on WLBT's website, the Clarion Ledger reported.
But the station didn't confirm that Bassett was dismissed.
"WLBT is unable to comment on personnel matters," said Ted Fortenberry, the station's regional vice president.
He added that the station is currently focused on covering the tornadoes that killed at least 26 people when they hit the Mississippi Delta region on Friday night.
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Bassett was conspicuously absent from the station's coverage of the weather event.
This is not the first time the host has ended up in hot water for her on-air comments.
Last year, she apologized for referring to a black reporter's "grandmammy" during a broadcast.
She also called the co-worker "girl" and "sis."
Although Bassett's most recent comments were widely condemned online as they went viral over the weekend, the reporter also received some support from figures including radio host Charlamagne tha God.
She got some supportive comments on her most recent Instagram post, as well.
"They better hire you back," one commenter said.
"I LOVE YOUUU!!!" said another, alongside a heart and a black fist emoji.
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"You were more 'supportive & down with the culture' honestly," they said. "Your coming to the next cookout! I appreciate you!"
Bassett did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun's request for comment.
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