Radio station apologises for offensive song
January 26, 2005
New York - A New York radio station apologised yesterday for repeatedly airing a joke song that ridiculed victims of the recent tsunami in South Asia and used racial slurs, saying the piece was in poor taste.
New York FM radio station WQHT, or HOT 97, ran the segment on its Miss Jones in the Morning show. The piece also made jokes about child slavery and people watching their mothers die.
"You can hear God laughing, 'Swim you bitches swim,' " was one line in the song.
The hip-hop/R&B station, known for its shock jocks, said on its website it "regrets airing of material that made light of a serious and tragic event. We apologise to our listeners and anyone who was offended".
Programme director and DJ Tarsha Nicole Jones apologised on the show.
Many lawmakers called on the US Federal Communications Commission to fine HOT 97.
"At a time when the world has come together to help in the tsunami tragedy relief ... we are disgusted and demand FCC action," New York State Assembly member Jimmy Meng said.
The piece was also denounced by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, which said it had received calls from Muslims offended by it.
Station-owner Emmis Communications Corp issued an apology and said the seven-person staff of the show would each contribute one week's pay to tsunami relief efforts. - Reuters
