Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency.
-
CBS 46 news anchor Sharon Reed has been in Atlanta about two years now, and she’s learning that the South is, well, the South. Reed, who spent time at a Cleveland news station before coming to Georgia, was understandably riled up Tuesday night during election coverage.
She doesn’t have a dog in the fight over whether the ATL will be led by conservative Mary Norwood or Democrat Keisha Lance-Bottoms, but a viewer’s email to her, calling her out of her name, set her off.
The viewer, Kathy Rae, who Reed insisted by identified, wrote: “You need to be fired for the race baiting comment you made tonight … it’s O.K. for blacks to discuss certain subjects but not white.”
Then things really went off the rails, when Rae wrote: “Really?? You are what I call a N***r not a black person. You are a racist N***r. You are what’s wrong with the world.”
Understandably taken aback, Reed replied “Number 1, you mischaracterized what I said … I didn’t say that white people couldn’t talk about race, but contrary, we think that race is an authentic discussion to have. It’s one we’re having tonight because it’s one that you are having at home and it’s one that has clearly entered the Atlanta mayor’s race.”
News anchor Sharon Reed responds on air to a viewer who calls her the N-word. This Atlanta Mayoral race has people fiesty tonight. pic.twitter.com/Vgri3oXnGN
— Billy Michael Honor (@BillyMHonor) December 6, 2017
The incident quickly livened up a rainy Tuesday night around the city and was posted on Reddit within hours of the exchange.
Reed said that the TV station wanted to “keep it real,” but she ended by saying that, “I get it: On December 5, 2017, you think it’s OK to call this journalist a nigger. I don’t, but I could clap back and say a few things to you, but I won’t. I’ll let your words spread for themselves — and that’ll be the last word.”
Reed kept her word and didn’t bring the matter up for the remainder of the newscast, but she clearly wasn’t over it. On Facebook page, she put the comment up as her header, showing the world that hey, she’s over it, but don’t come for her. Ever. Again.
