If you were wondering how Fox 8 would handle Kristi Capel’s infamous viral moment yesterday after dropping “jigaboo” live on air, the station wants to let you know that they stand by Capel after her mistake. There will be no firing, no suspension.

This morning, though, Capel did issue an apology while sitting next to her co-anchor Wayne Dawson. She had previously said yesterday that she had no idea what the word meant.

“I just want to take a moment to address a comment that I made yesterday that got a lot of attention,” she said, according to multiple reports. “It’s important for me to let you know that I deeply regret my insensitive comment. And I truly did not know the meaning of the word and would never intentionally use such hurtful language.”

Also: “I sincerely apologize for using that language and promise to learn from this, and I hope you will give me that chance.”

Dawson voiced his support for his coworker, and the station, through news director Andy Fishman, supported her as well, telling the PD, “We’ve spoken to her about this, and we’re confident it won’t happen again.”

This article appears in Feb 18-24, 2015.

Vince Grzegorek has been with Scene since 2007 and editor-in-chief since 2012. He previously worked at Discount Drug Mart and Texas Roadhouse.

11 replies on “Kristi Capel Apologized This Morning For Using a Racial Slur On Air Yesterday”

  1. You react like she sells her cover page to advertisers and censors stories after billionaire sports owners complain about them. She’s not Scene Magazine, dammit, she’s just a pretty face.

  2. After reading numerous comments regarding Kristi’s comment, and apology I am struck by a glaring fact. We all have opinions. What strikes me in this, is the Fox 8 station itself. Try to connect to the link showing this comment on this page. The video link simply says, this video has been taken down… Consequently, I also looked at numerous other search results and discovered the same. If this is ” No big deal” as commenters are posting, why did the station feel the need to disable the link across the web. Obviously due to the Bigoted an inflammatory nature of their reporters statement. This action is what makes this a big deal, not just the statement of the reporter

  4. Thank you Kristi for your apology although I accept your explanation, I’m sorry we live in a society where others are awaiting mistakes like this to further inflame emotions. Anyone who watches the show knows you are not racist but these are the times in which we live. Keep your head up.

  7. I still would like to know exactly WHAT she was trying to say with that comment, since she doesn’t seem to know the meaning of the word.

  8. My comment is simply, why would you use a word you didn’t know? That is what makes no sense…

  9. IF SHE TRUELY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THE WORD “JIGABOO” MEANT, IN WHAT CONTEXT OF THE WORD DID SHE MEAN. WHERE DID SHE HEAR THE WORD IN ORDER FOR HER TO USE IT DESCRIPTIVELY. SHE HAD TO HAVE BEEN SOMEWHERE AND HEARD THE TERM USED IN CONVERSATION. HOW COULD SHE USE THE WORD “ON AIR” AND NOT KNOW WHAT THE WORD MEANT. MAYBE SHE THOUGHT THE WORD AS BEING “ENDEARING” TO DESCIBE AFRICAN AMERICANS. I NEVER THOUGHT I’D EVER HEAR THE WORD “JIGABOO” AGAIN BUT THEN, IT’S 2015 AND THE WORD “NGGER” IS STILL USED TO DESCRIBE AFRICAN AMERICANS. I’M NOT BUYING IT KRISTI. DESPITE YOUR APOLOLOGY, YOU REALLY NEED TO BE FIRED. BUT YOU WEREN’T, AND NEVER WILL BE. AND THE BAND PLAYS ON!!!

  10. She needs to be given a position other than being on air. She has never seemed like the brightest tool in the shed to me. Why would you use a word you didn’t know the meaning of. Look the word up in the urban dictionary and you would feel the same way too. She has either used it before of has been around some one that has. I refuse to watch fox 8 news as long as she is on it. I believe I speak for a many. And as for Wayne she may be your co worker but she insulted your race. Forgive her but don’t give her a chance to do it again. Ignorance!!!!!!!!

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