'Racist and sexist': Anchorwoman loses job after her question about city's recent mayors draws criticism

A white Baltimore anchorwoman was terminated from her position at a news station after coming under fire for a question about the race and gender of three recent Baltimore mayors, who are all African-American women.

Baltimore’s WJZ-TV said Mary Bubala was no longer an employee of the station on Monday, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Bubala’s interview in question was with Loyola University Maryland Professor Karsonya "Kaye" Wise Whitehead on Thursday.

“We’ve had three female, African-American mayors in a row,” Bubala asked Whitehead 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?”

The line of questioning drew the attention of Nicki Mayo, who has worked in TV news and served as the president of the Baltimore Association of Black Journalists (BABJ). She shared a video of the interview on Twitter the day after it aired, where it quickly drew the attention of critics.

Bubala issued two separate apologies on Thursday and Friday following the incident.

But BABJ was not satisfied with Bubala’s response. The association shared a statement on Monday stating that Bubala's question was "racist and sexist."

"[Bubala’s question] implies race and gender are qualifiers in one's ability to lead while also demonizing African-Americans and women as poor leaders," the statement read in part, going on to ask if Bubala would have voiced a similar question of white male leadership.

On Monday night, the station’s general manager Audra Swain provided a statement to The Baltimore Sun informing the paper of the anchorwoman’s dismissal.

"Mary Bubala is no longer a WJZ-TV employee. The station apologizes to its viewers for her remarks,” the statement read.

Bubala also provided a statement to The Baltimore Sun.

“In my 22 years of working in TV news in Baltimore — 15 of those years with WJZ — I have always treated people with the utmost respect and dignity. I loved my job because I love the people of Baltimore.

“Last week I realized I made a mistake in the language I used on air. I immediately apologized for any hurt I unintentionally caused. I received immediate support from WJZ because they knew it was not in my heart to intentionally cause this kind of harm. I wanted to do an on-air apology but was not allowed. I hope that the people of Baltimore know that I would never do anything to hurt anyone.

“Unfortunately, I now stand in the path of the tornado. WJZ was forced to let me go. I am saddened and shocked by this decision. Baltimore City has been my home for 25 years and I treasure and am so grateful for the relationships I have made with the people of Baltimore during this time. I fully intend to fight to restore my reputation because I’ve invested my heart and soul in my work and my city. Thank you Baltimore for all of your support during this difficult period of time. It means so much to me.”

While people online said that Bubala's question was a clear example of microaggressions both people of color and women face every day, friends and former co-workers of the anchorwoman, as well as WJZ viewers, expressed their disappointment with the station over her firing on Twitter.

Still, Mayo told The Baltimore Sun that “firing or letting [Bubala] go does nothing to relieve the greater problem here.”

“I don’t take any joy in another journalist not working. This was another ceremonial falling on the sword that continues to cut a serious hole in efforts for newsroom inclusion and diversity,” she said.

Mayo added, "I expect a woman to be more sensitive to generalizing a demographic. I don’t know any white women who would be comfortable with an anchor or anyone asking a question like the one we heard, saying, ‘Well, we’ve had three women back to back. Do you think it’s time for a different kind of leadership?’ I think every white woman I know would have been, like, ‘What do you mean by that?"

“She messed up. I get it,” Mayo said. “But you know that line, ‘The mouth speaks the truth of the heart?’ She told you how she feels.”

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