April Simpson no longer works at St. Louis Fox affiliate KTVI, after what the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says was a racial incident with a station intern.
“April Simpson no longer works here,” a station spokesperson told the Post-Dispatch. “We wish her well.”
Simpson, who returned Monday from a two-week suspension for undisclosed reasons, engaged Thursday in a verbal exchange that led to this recent job action, sources said.
AdvertisementSimpson admitted that she had taken to referring to an intern, who is part Asian and part black, as “Bruce Leroy.”
Simpson said that she was not the only employee to use the moniker, which comes from the 1985 film “The Last Dragon.”
When he objected Thursday to the reference, Simpson argued with the intern who then complained to the human resources department, sources said.
Simpson denied arguing with the intern, but when asked for further response, she said, “That’s all I have to say. Frankly, I’m shocked by this.”
Later Friday night, Simpson called to say the moniker was used in reference to the intern’s physical resemblance to the movie character, not to his racial make-up.