A New Jersey radio station has suspended two popular talk show hosts after they repeatedly referred to New Jersey attorney general Gurbir S. Grewal as “turban man,” reports CNN.
On Wednesday, hosts Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco of NJ101.5/WKXW-FM were discussing Grewal’s recent action requesting that prosecutors delay cases concerning marijuana-related offenses for at least a month.
However, Malloy could not remember Grewal’s name. “The attorney general, the guy, I’m never going to know his name,” said Malloy. “I’m just going to say the guy with the turban.”
Franco responds by singing, “Turban maaan!”
“Listen, and if that offends you, then don’t wear the turban and I’ll remember your name,” Malloy chuckled. “But, ‘turban man,’ is that highly offensive?”
“To me? No,” she responded. “To people who wear turbans? Could be.”
“If you called me ‘baseball hat man’ and I was in a culture where nobody wore baseball hats […] should I be offended?” asked Malloy.
Born to Indian immigrants, 45-year-old Grewal is the first Sikh American to serve as an attorney general in U.S. history.
Gov. Philip D. Murphy, who nominated Grewal to his position, swiftly released a statement calling the comments “abhorrent and xenophobic” and described them as “hate speech,” urging the station to “hold the hosts accountable for these intolerant and racist comments.”
Grewal tweeted at the station Thursday morning:
.@nj1015: My name, for the record, is Gurbir Grewal. I’m the 61st Attorney General of NJ. I’m a Sikh American. I have 3 daughters. And yesterday, I told them to turn off the radio.
— Gurbir S. Grewal (@GurbirGrewalNJ) July 26, 2018
NJ101.5 said on Thursday that both hosts were suspended and that the pair had apologized to Grewal.
“We use humor and sarcasm to make a point and add color to the broadcast; in this instance, we were off the mark,” the apology reads. “It was a mistake we both deeply regret. We respect all cultures and beliefs and are deeply sorry for the pain caused to the Sikh community, our co-workers and our beloved listeners.”
“If he was an attorney general who was not a Sikh, he wouldn’t have a problem saying his name,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, New Jersey’s first Sikh mayor.
State lawmakers from both major parties condemned the racist comments on the Senate floor on Thursday, according to Politico. Civil rights groups have also been very vocal.
Gurwin Singh Ahuja, cofounder of the National Sikh Campaign, said that the real damage was not from calling Grewal ‘turban man,’ but rather from the hosts disregarding what the turban represents to Sikhs, reports The New York Times. “It’s a commitment to fight for our values.”
The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) also released a statement, noting, “To label and marginalize individuals for their faith is offensive and harmful.”
Thank you to @GovMurphy, @NJSenatePres, @CoryBooker, @RaviBhalla & so many others for your support last night. You’ve got my back – and the backs of all New Jerseyans.
Others have faced far worse. We rise above this. Now let’s get back to business. pic.twitter.com/f2TqL4vzB5
— Gurbir S. Grewal (@GurbirGrewalNJ) July 26, 2018
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RE:Two Radio Hosts Suspended after Calling Sikh Attorney General “Turban Man”: EuroAmericans need some serious help and deep searching into their roots and history and come to some decision about healing themselves.
RE: Two Radio Hosts Suspended After Calling Sikh Attorney General “Turban Man”: This is actually a real apology when you compare it to the ones which say – I’m sorry you were offended because you’re too sensitive and I said nothing wrong.