KTUU, the NBC affiliate in Anchorage, has fired reporter Dan Fiorruci for “inappropriate online communications,” general manager Andy MacLeod said in a statement Tuesday.
“Late Friday, Channel 2 was made aware of inappropriate online communications allegedly involving one of our employees, Daniel Fiorucci,” the statement reads. “We immediately notified Anchorage police so they could investigate the matter. Channel 2 immediately ended Mr. Fiorucci’s employment.”
The Anchorage Daily News has more details on Fiorucci’s exit:
The firing came after a website that describes itself as being dedicated to “teaching child predators a lesson” posted a transcript that purports to be a conversation between Fiorucci and someone posing as a 14-year-old girl. The conversation includes sexual banter.
Also posted was an audio file of someone who identifies himself as the girl’s father confronting Fiorucci on his work phone about the matter. The web site is huntingapredator.com.
Fiorucci first worked at KTUU in 2003 and rejoined the station last year after a stint at WCAU in Philadelphia. His online bio has been stripped from the station’s website.
KTUU did not immediately respond to TVSpy’s request for comment.
>Update: KTUU responded to TVSpy’s request for comment and declined to elaborate further on Fiorucci’s departure.