When a CBS news anchor received a racist email from a viewer, she gave the perfect on-air response.
In a segment on Atlanta’s CBS46 Tuesday night, journalist Sharon Reed read aloud an email sent by viewer Kathy Rae. The email called Reed the N-word, saying:
“You need to be fired for the race baiting comment you made tonight– ‘It’s okay for blacks to discuss certain subjects but not whites’. 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.”
Reed said in the email the N-word was misspelled, reading “Niger [sic].”
In her response, the anchor didn’t stoop to Rae’s level.
“I think when arguing with somebody, you have to be careful not to mischaracterize their viewpoint,” Reed said. “So I won’t mischaracterize your view either, Kathy Rae. I get it.”
She continued: “On December 5, 2017 you think it’s okay to call this journalist a n****r. I don’t. I could clap back and say a few things to you, but instead, I’ll let your words, Kathy Rae, speak for themselves, and that’ll be the last word.”
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
On Facebook, Reed wrote, “Just another day at the office… not the first time I’ve been called that word.”
The anchor even made a screenshot of the email her Facebook cover photo.
https://www.facebook.com/sharon.reed/posts/955136784635441