• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

Real Talk: Thoughts on the Folks Who Fired Rhonda Lee

Should the station have done more to protect Lee against rude commenters?
Real Talk: Thoughts on the Folks Who Fired Rhonda Lee
By Demetria L. Lucas · Updated October 28, 2020

By now many of you have heard the story of the Black meteorologist in Shreveport, Louisiana, who was fired by ABC affiliate KTBS allegedly because she responded to a viewer who left a comment on the station’s Facebook page. When news of Rhonda Lee’s dismissal broke last week, many social media users expressed outrage, and there was a petition circulating demanding the station re-hire her. “Rhonda Lee deserves to have her job back,” the petition reads. “Her eloquent response to the bigoted and sexist remarks… [was] warranted.”

The backstory for those not in the know: On October 1, a viewer commented on the station’s Facebook page, “The black lady that does the news… she needs to wear a wig or grow some more hair. I’m not sure if she is a cancer patient. but its not something that I think looks good on tv.” That’s not your typical Internet rudeness; it’s racially charged criticism, and it was intended to belittle Lee.

By October 6, the comment had not been removed from the Facebook page, and so Lee decided to address the viewer (and in a much more polite manner than expected). “I am sorry you don’t like my ethnic hair,” Lee wrote. “And no I don’t have cancer. I am very proud of my African-American ancestry which includes my hair… I’m very proud of who I am and the standard of beauty I display. As women we come in all shapes, sizes, nationalities, and levels of beauty.”

On November 28, Lee was fired. KTBS says Lee was dismissed because she repeatedly violated a company policy by responding to the viewer. KTBS released an email that was sent to employees stating that in situations like these, it is “best not to respond at all.” Lee says she never saw the email.

There have been countless articles written with due outrage about Lee’s firing. I feel the same, but in an effort not to be redundant, I won’t repeat the sentiments already discussed. I would like to bring up a point that seems to have gone overlooked: the responsibility of the station to protect Lee and its failure to do so.

When the TV station powers-that-be provided an explanation of why Lee was let go, they were careful to note that there was a “specific procedure to follow” by on-air talent when viewers made harsh comments. But what is the station’s actual procedure for protecting its talent?

Viewers hurling negative comments at public figures is, unfortunately, par for the course, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t frustrate or hurt them. To allow a personal attack to remain on the site for five days for all to see isn’t exactly supporting or protecting your talent, especially when there’s a policy in place that stops them from defending and protecting themselves. I’m sure Lee hoped the station would defend her, or at the very least remove the comment. They didn’t, and I’m also sure that felt like her employers were taking a jab at her too.

And maybe they were. Given Lee’s professional response to the viewer and his subsequent apology to her — which means there was no harm or foul — I’m convinced the station just wanted to get rid of her. I have no guesses as to why. Surely, though, there are employees of the station who have done far worse and been treated much better.


Demetria L. Lucas is the author of A Belle in Brooklyn: The Go-to Girl for Advice on Living Your Best Single Life (Atria), in stores now. Follow her on Twitter @abelleinbk

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now