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Home • News

These Local Fox Anchors Called A Black Teen ‘Obnoxious’ For Getting Into 20 Schools And People Let Them Have It

These Local Fox Anchors Called A Black Teen ‘Obnoxious’ For Getting Into 20 Schools And People Let Them Have It
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By Britni Danielle · Updated October 24, 2020

After 17-year-old Micheal Brown made news for getting into 20 of the top universities in the country and securing scholarships to each of them, he was showered with praise. Former president Bill Clinton even weighed in on Brown’s astounding accomplishment, telling the teen “if you want to talk about Georgetown give me a call.”

While most would agree Brown is a brilliant young man with a promising future, two local news anchors chose a curious way to describe the star student: obnoxious.

During a bizarre segment on Fox’s Washington, D.C. affiliate, reporters Holly Morris and Sarah Fraser criticized Brown — who has a 4.68 GPA — for applying to 20 schools and “taking a spot from someone else who worked really hard.”

Here's a new one: Local Fox anchors criticized this Black teen for working TOO hard pic.twitter.com/sIwyciCC9j

— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) April 9, 2018

“It’s a little ridiculous that this kid applied to 20, taking away a spot and basically waitlisting another kid,” Fraser said.

Morris agreed. “It’s a little obnoxious because you can only go to one, you can only take one full ride, and you are taking a spot from someone else who worked really hard,” she said.

Once the clip hit social media, however, many dragged the reporters for complaining about Brown’s amazing feat. Some even pointed out the racist undertones of the women’s words.

This doesn’t “take a space or a scholarship” away from ANYONE.

Yale isn’t going to suddenly enroll only 1,499 freshmen or only give $4,950,000 in financial aid if this kid goes to Stanford instead.

This is straight up, poorly coded, bigotry. https://t.co/ySdmNbml1x

— Aditya Sood (@adityasood) April 9, 2018

Michael Brown, I wish you would’ve applied to 30 schools. Keep shining- you’re an inspiration to black and brown kids all over. Perhaps you could call it a representation of the fact so many of us have to work twice as hard to get half of what others get... https://t.co/VOU3AjijcW

— Don Champion (@DonChampionTV) April 9, 2018

So to sum up: Ferguson's Michael Brown who was murdered by the cop was a thug who wasn’t trying to do anything with his life so he deserved to die. THIS Michael Brown who applied to 20 colleges/universities and got full rides, is "obnoxious" for doing too much with his life. https://t.co/YXPXWAPrYv

— Daryle Lamont Jenkins (@DLamontJenkins) April 5, 2018

After they were slammed for criticizing the teen, Fraser issued an apology on Twitter, admitting her words were “petty.”

https://twitter.com/heyfrase/status/982631548943065089

Morris, on the other hand, held firm to her original stance that Brown applied to too many schools and should have done “a more targeted search.”

I just believe in a more targeted search. I think the common ap has changed the game and makes it too easy to apply to too many schools. Has nothing to do with privilege. Just my opinion. We can disagree... that’s ok. https://t.co/JsGsXAGTmV

— Holly Morris (@HollyMorrisTV) April 3, 2018

I also said he is an amazing young man. This is not a racial issue. I would have the exact same opinion if the boy was white. https://t.co/gq8Edty0s8

— Holly Morris (@HollyMorrisTV) April 4, 2018

In spite of the negative comments, Brown and Morris spoke via Skype, but the teen said he refused to allow the station to air the interview because she has yet to apologize for her remarks.

https://twitter.com/mbreezy101/status/982099638323961857

Brown, who grew up in Houston’s third ward and watched his mother struggle to finish school after her divorce, said he hopes his story will inspire others.

“Honored to share my story to show other students that if you put in the work, you will be rewarded,” he tweeted. “ Much love to all the first-gen college students, low-income students, and students of color who are just trying to achieve their dreams.”