Don Geronimo Fired from Big 100

[pjc1961]

While at Washington Commanders training camp on Thursday 7/27/2023, WIBG's Don Geronimo and co-host Crash Young made sexist comments towards WUSA TV (Channel 9) reporter Sharla McBride, referring to her as "Barbie", "Barbie Girl" and "...a cheerleader."

Geronimo and Young were first banned from attending the Friday 7/28/2023 session, then Geronimo was fired after an internal investigation by iHeart.

Both the Commanders and iHeart issued statements about the actions they took following the incidents.

RadioInsight story link:
Don Geronimo Fired From WBIG For Comments About TV Sportscaster While At Commanders Training Camp - RadioInsight

WUSA Channel 9 report that aired after the banning but before the firing:

Radio personality Don Geronimo fired for making derogatory comments about a WUSA9 sports reporter

Geronimo was let go Saturday after an internal review.

www.wusa9.com

From the WUSA TV clip and RadioInsight story:

"McBride said she was hurt and incredibly offended that after 17 years as a journalist, sexist comments like that discredit her as a professional calling it inappropriate, unprofessional and embarrassing."

 

[DXingRadio]

Old shock jock can't get away with old shock jock schtick, shocking. Don almost got 2 years at his latest gig.

 

[pjc1961]

Indirectly, this also shows that the Dan Snyder days of the Washington Commanders are over, as this type of incident would likely be neglected by the franchise in the past.

 

[MarkW]

The fact this was considered a firable offense is absurd, in my opinion. The comments were inappropriate but not outrageously so.

I also am suspicious as to the sincerity of McBride's offense to the remarks.

 

[Rusty Muck]

If iHeart/WBIG didn’t fire Don, the new team ownership would assuredly have ripped their radio contract to smithereens weeks before the season started. The station had no choice but to abide by the team’s wishes. That’s how these things work.

Jack Harris has made it known he’s going to blow up anything/everything with the team that is tainted by Dan Snyder, who needed to have been thrown out of the industry two decades ago.

 

[ksradiogeek]

I also am suspicious as to the sincerity of McBride's offense to the remarks.

Ummmm…what?

McBride’s been in this business for nearly 2 decades. Her comments reflect the unfortunate and disgusting reality that many female reporters and anchors still face, including some I personally know.

 

[TheBigA]

The only reason they were there was because the station has the radio rights to the team's play-by-play. Normally the only people credentialed for these training camps are actual sports reporters. They were clearly out of their depth.

 

[Rusty Muck]

The only reason they were there was because the station has the radio rights to the team's play-by-play. Normally the only people credentialed for these training camps are actual sports reporters. They were clearly out of their depth.

WJFK was the team’s flagship throughout much of Don & Mike’s run. There really is no excuse.

Don also just tweeted…err…xed this:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1685696016320696320

 

[MarkW]

McBride’s been in this business for nearly 2 decades. Her comments reflect the unfortunate and disgusting reality that many female reporters and anchors still face, including some I personally know.

I find it interesting that a woman who routinely wears form fitting outfits and has clearly had work done (I visited her Instagram page earlier today) is so upset by a "Barbie" analogy.

Perhaps she is more upset by the fact Don didn't know (or claimed to not know) who she was?

 

[TheBigA]

I find it interesting that a woman who routinely wears form fitting outfits and has clearly had work done

You would prefer that she wear a burka?

 

[MarkW]

Of course not. But if someone in her profession wishes to dress in a burka, I'd have no issue with that.

 

[TheBigA]

Of course not. But if someone in her profession wishes to dress in a burka, I'd have no issue with that.

Then why have an issue with this? Her appearance doesn't justify the comment.

 

[exdjted]

I find it interesting that a woman who routinely wears form fitting outfits and has clearly had work done (I visited her Instagram page earlier today) is so upset by a "Barbie" analogy.

Perhaps she is more upset by the fact Don didn't know (or claimed to not know) who she was?

Perhaps she was rightly upset that Don used a sexist comment to infer that she was an empty-headed doll who was only hired for her looks and has no substance? Would you rather all female sport reporters be homely so they appear more knowledgeable? Why does her choice of clothing and having work done make her any less valuable or competent at her job? Please, enlighten me. Tell me how looks equate to knowledge or worth.

Don Geronimo is typical in that he looks at every woman for her looks and not her brains, and he rightly deserves to be fired. Would he stand for his own daughter to be talked to that way? Maybe some time on the unemployment line will smarten him up, although that requires self-insight, which is probably lacking.

 

[MarkW]

Why does her choice of clothing and having work done make her any less valuable or competent at her job?

It doesn't.

Tell me how looks equate to knowledge or worth.

Are you suggesting "homely" sideline reporters (to use your term, not mine) have an equal chance of being hired for prime sideline reporting roles as younger, attractive, slender females?

Attractiveness does equate to value in the TV profession when we're talking about casting of females in programming that is predominantly viewed by men. I'm not saying that's right, but it's reality.

Don Geronimo is typical in that he looks at every woman for her looks and not her brains

Do you know that for fact or are you generalizing based on a single incident?

I will certainly say he owes the journalist in question an apology even if there is a chance her outrage isn't completely sincere.

Then why have an issue with this?

I'm admittedly confused by the question. I have no issue whatsoever with the reporter's choice of wardrobe or appearance. My "issue" is with what I view to be an excessively harsh punishment leveled against Don Geronimo. I also think there is a chance said reporter's outrage is not completely sincere.

 

[exdjted]

Are you suggesting "homely" sideline reporters (to use your term, not mine) have an equal chance of being hired for prime sideline reporting roles as younger, attractive, slender females?

Certainly not in today's marketplace. That's what's wrong with the world today. People equate looks to importance and prestige. Sad that people are so shallow, but it's not gonna be my world a lot longer to deal with.

Do you know that for fact or are you generalizing based on a single incident?

Based off his general schtick and the fact that he can't see why this was wrong to begin with and to make everyone think that there's another side to this where he's going to come off any better. Maybe he doesn't act this way all the time, but this incident does tend to color public opinion of him.

I also think there is a chance said reporter's outrage is not completely sincere.

Based on what? Just as I don't know Don Geronimo personally, do you know Sharla McBride personally to be able to say that we shouldn't accept her statement at face value?

I'm the wrong person to judge someone based on their looks. I've been laughed at and ridiculed my entire life because of my size, and I've been told that fat people are lazy and stupid, and not given the chances by others to prove myself, so I've done it on my own. Just because I haven't beaten someone to a pulp for making fun of me doesn't mean that their words didn't hurt and that I didn't have a right to be upset. But I knew I had to control myself because I really could have hurt someone. In my youth, I picked up a 1,000 lb. Gates BC-1G Transmitter and carried it across a room. I also trained to be a professional wrestler under Angelo Poffo and Randy Savage, so I know how to hurt someone quickly and efficiently.

All I'm saying is, she had a right to be upset by the remarks, and in my opinion, he deserved to be fired. If you think she's not sincere, I won't be able to change your mind.

 

[radiofan2023]

Don just renewed his contract recently and probably thought he was safe - turns out he was wrong

 

[TheBigA]

I'm admittedly confused by the question. I have no issue whatsoever with the reporter's choice of wardrobe or appearance. My "issue" is with what I view to be an excessively harsh punishment leveled against Don Geronimo. I also think there is a chance said reporter's outrage is not completely sincere.

You're the one who brought up her wardrobe and appearance, implying that in a way she herself motivated the comment.

The immediate punishment was probably directly related to the incident. What may have led to the firing was further discussions with Geronimo and others he worked with. The sincerity of her response is not the point, and doesn't justify the behavior.

Every company I've worked for has policies about workplace behavior. Companies and people get sued for things like this.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

The fact this was considered a firable offense is absurd, in my opinion. The comments were inappropriate but not outrageously so.

I also am suspicious as to the sincerity of McBride's offense to the remarks.

doesnt freakin matter. As someone who was made fun of all the time in middle and high school, you dont let this stuff go... thats why behavior like this will continue if we don't say something. Offended or not, its not appropriate.

 

[MarkW]

Instead of firing people for "Barbie" comparisons, iHeart should stop playing music from known domestic batterers such as Chris Brown. Very interesting that the company feels the latter is unworthy of cancellation.

Companies and people get sued for things like this.

No, they do not. Geronimo did not work with McBride, and even if he did, calling someone "Barbie" is unlikely to be viewed as harassment in a legal sense.

If you think she's not sincere, I won't be able to change your mind.

I don't know if she's being sincere or not. I'm suggesting there is a possibility she is not being sincere. There is also a possibility she is being 100 percent sincere and is truly offended by the comment.

 

[MarkW]

If iHeart/WBIG didn’t fire Don, the new team ownership would assuredly have ripped their radio contract to smithereens weeks before the season started. The station had no choice but to abide by the team’s wishes. That’s how these things work.

Jack Harris has made it known he’s going to blow up anything/everything with the team that is tainted by Dan Snyder, who needed to have been thrown out of the industry two decades ago.

Completely agree regarding Snyder.

Regarding the broadcast contract, you might be right. I have no idea what type of termination clauses are contained in the contract. Certainly, I assume the team has the right to bar Geronimo (or anyone else) from its property.

There have been a number of bad behavior incidents with play by play broadcasters and analysts over the years that did not result in teams "ripping up" agreements with radio or TV outlets. Many times the offending announcer is suspended or fired...true. The examples that come to mind involve people who work directly on game day programming and involve language much worse (in my opinion) than Barbie.

In my view, removing Geronimo from Commanders events, requiring an apology, and an unpaid brief suspension would've been appropriate punishment.

There's no question team leadership was unhappy with the remarks.