Ronny Kaye canned at KOMA

[billokc]

Saw this on OKC Talk (dot) com:
According to his FB its true. He apparently said something offensive about Indigenous People Day. The tribes do a lot advertising so it surprised me he even said anything. DJs usually know you don't bad mouth your advertisers in any light. Then again he is aging so he might have had a slip or he's just tired and found a convenient way out of his contract. Also, if he said anything that was taken as offensive to Native Americans they would have had no choice then to let him go as they already set a precedent when they fired Cara Rice and Sam Mayes for their off-air conversation in the studio.

 

[Gregg.]

On the KOMA personalities webpage, the DJs who are listed include the morning host and midday woman. There's an evening guy from co-owned KRXO and an overnight guy. I assume those two are voice-tracked.

But no afternoon host.

 

[billokc]

All this was posted on RK's Facebook page:

​

This was posted on his FB page:

"To all the listeners who have supported me on radio through the years I regret to tell you that my career has been terminated over a comment I made on October 9 Columbus Day which is also Indigenous Day. I had no intentions of offending the Native American heritage. Some of my best friends are Native American. I would have preferred to do this on air but I wasn't given the opportunity to do so. Thank you listeners. Mr Rock and Roll".

This post is about what he said:

"My friend Ronnie Kaye was fired from KOMA. If you were listening, here’s what he said.
“It’s Columbus Day and Indigineous People Day.
I don’t know what ‘Indigineous’ means and I don’t care.”
In this “politically correct world” sometimes words can offend. That’s too bad. God bless you Ronnie!---Larry Stein

 

[Kent]

I was listening to KOMA mid-morning yesterday when walking my dog and noticed it was jockless. Wasn't sure what was going on, but I listen to KOMA on the weekends sometimes, and it's been jockless on the weekends for at least a couple years. Then again, the weekend jock is pretty much a thing of the past.

 

[radiofan2023]

Guess he found out what “fired” means.

 

[Identnut]

I know Oklahoma is full of right-wing blowhards, but it seems particularly stupid to say you don't care about "Indigenous People's Day" in INDIAN TERRITORY.

 

[radiofan2023]

I bet he thought it was funny until he was held to account for it. And of course the apology includes the excuse, “some of my best friends are (fill in the blank with the group I made fun of).“

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I finally looked up what he said..... and ive learned working in native areas, people are understandably very very sensitive about things like this, after growing up and being told to not be native (speak english, not your native language, etc) and when a white boy makes a comment like this, it IS offensive.

Thats just the way it is, wether you agree or not.. and your job as a MUSIC radio announcer is to adjust yourself and presentation to your communities sensibilities/sensitivities and standards.

He knew what he said, he knew what kind of offense it would cause and hes only sorry he got caught.

About 10 days ago, i was reading the weather, and mentioned referred to monday as "Columbus day monday" as thats whats on the NWS page and when doing weather, im kinda on auto pilot and just read.

A listener called up, upset, and i apologized, explained my brainless move and apologized on air.

 

[Kent]

I finally looked up what he said..... and ive learned working in native areas, people are understandably very very sensitive about things like this, after growing up and being told to not be native (speak english, not your native language, etc) and when a white boy makes a comment like this, it IS offensive.

He's 84 years old, which means he was born in 1939 (or the very tail end of 1938), and grew up in Northeast Arkansas. Only he knows what’s in his heart, but I'd be surprised if he grew up an integrationist. That area didn’t have many at the time and arguably still doesn’t have many today. He’s part of the same generation that shouted down the Little Rock Nine as they made their way to Central High School only to be turned away by the governor and the National Guard. When I went to college in Arkansas, I went with the kids of those people, and, while they weren’t as in your face as their parents were, most were quite willing, perhaps even eager, to let the venom flow when they thought they were around like-minded people.

Maybe I'm painting with a broad brush that isn’t entirely fair. Maybe he really was one of the outliers in his area growing up, or maybe he changed as he got older and saw more of the world for himself. Whatever the case, he should've known better.

 

[The New Chico]

I feel you on the NWS Columbus Day deal. I always edit the copy and paste off their pages and change the holidays back to "Monday" or whatever. They use whatever the national holiday is called by the Federal govmint and in a 24 hour working world holidays mean so much less anyway.