ABC 7 anchor Ken Rosato ‘immediately fired’ over hot mic remark

[MASTERBAKER]

ABC 7 anchor Ken Rosato ‘immediately fired’ over hot mic remark​

By Carlos Greer

May 12, 2023 | 7:54pm




Enlarge ImageKen Rosato was fired immediately after a hot mic comment, sources say.Instagram

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As if ABC News needed more drama.
Just as “GMA3” is officially washing its hands of co-anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach’s salacious love affair, another scandal is rocking one of the network’s flagship local news broadcasts.
Ken Rosato, longtime anchor of “Eyewitness News This Morning” on New York’s WABC 7, has been given the boot after allegedly making an off-color remark, Page Six has exclusively learned.
Rosato was off the air when he uttered the phrase, we’re told, but an insider told us his remark was picked up “on an open mic” and was “immediately let go.”
It’s unclear what Rosato said or when exactly he made the comment.
Another source would only say he was “fired for cause immediately.”
Rosato’s colleagues learned about the firing on Friday.
We’re told his co-anchors were brought in “one-by-one” for a talk about it, but management wouldn’t tell them what he said.
Enlarge Image

Rosato started at ABC 7 as a freelance reporter in 2003. Getty Images
Our insider also doesn’t know what he uttered, but speculated that it could have been a “racial slur.”
A rep for Rosato sharply denied that, telling us: “Being fired for any racial slur is 100 percent inaccurate and untrue. Ken Rosato had a benchmark of 20 years at WABC of supporting all equality.”
On Friday, the station’s general manager alerted staffers via e-mail that Rosato “is no longer with WABC.”
“We thank him for his years of service,” they wrote.
Enlarge Image

Rosato with his “Eyewitness News” co-anchor Shirleen AllicotInstagram
Rosato joined “Eyewitness News” as a freelance reporter in 2003 and was promoted to morning and noon anchor in 2007.
He anchored “This Morning” with Shirleen Allicot, Heather O’Rourke, and Sam Champion.

What do you think? Post a comment.

A rep for ABC News did not get back to us.


The former anchor’s bio has been wiped from the company’s website. His daily tweets from the anchor desk stopped on May 2.

 

[D24OHA]

Something about Jews or LBGTQIA(lmnop....just kidding)

Definitely NOT something about black people, you just apologize for that shit and keep it moving

 

[MASTERBAKER]

The hot-mic insult aimed at fellow anchor that got ABC7’s Ken Rosato ‘immediately fired’​

By Carlos Greer


May 15, 2023 | 3:05pm


Local New York anchor Ken Rosato was axed from ABC 7 for allegedly referring to his co-anchor Shirleen Allicot with a four-letter word, sources exclusively tell Page Six.
The longtime local “Eyewitness News This Morning” anchor was “immediately fired” after “he called her a c–t” on a hot mic, a source said.
Rosato was off the air when he allegedly uttered the word, we were told, but insiders previously said his remark was picked up “on an open mic” and that he was “immediately let go.”
A spokesperson for ABC replied with “No comment” when we reached out on Sunday.
Rosato’s rep would not confirm or deny that he referred to his colleague with the c-word.
Enlarge ImageKen Rosato allegedly called his co-anchor the c-word on an open mic. Instagram Enlarge ImageRosato co-anchored “Eyewitness News This Morning” with Shirleen Allicot. Facebook/Shirleen Allicot
His rep had previously quickly shut down an insider’s speculation that the anchor was caught on an open mic making racial remarks.
“Being fired for any racial slur is 100 percent inaccurate and untrue. Ken Rosato had a benchmark of 20 years at WABC of supporting all equality,” the rep told us on Friday.

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Brass at WABC7 would not disclose Rosato’s vulgar remark when they informed other reporters and anchors that he would not be returning to the anchor desk, we’re told.
Rosato anchored the morning news program with Allicot, Heather O’Rourke and meteorologist Sam Champion.
Enlarge ImageA rep for ABC would not comment on Rosato’s hot-mic moment. Facebook/Shirleen Allicot Enlarge ImageRosato’s bio has been scrubbed from the station’s website. Instagram
He started working at the station as a freelance reporter in 2003 and was later promoted to morning and noon anchor.
The station has yet to publicly announce his exit, but the general manager informed staffers that Rosato “is no longer with WABC” via email on Friday.

What do you think? Post a comment.

“We thank him for his years of service,” they wrote.


Additionally, Rosato’s bio and a profile on him from September 2020 were removed from the station’s website last week. His last tweet from the anchor desk was on May 2.