Yesterday morning at around 8:25 a.m., News 12 The Bronx reporter Amy Yensi and anchor Matt Pieper were caught in an open-mic moment. The pair were about to report on the need for school crossing guards in certain areas, when they made the following off-the-cuff comments on air:
Pieper: And Dave wants you to also mention that parents do their f**king jobs and walk their little kids to school on their own and not rely on everyone else kind of like people rely on government assistance for their entire lives. And bye Felicia. I actually added the part about government assistance but it’s true. I mean, how old are these kids?
AdvertisementYensi: I think I qualify for government assistance (laughs)
Pieper: Just check that box, girl
Yensi: #EBT
After the show aired the station’s Facebook page exploded with hundreds of angry comments like these:
Jovahn Howard: News 12 the Bronx should definitely and definitively take action against matt piper and possibly Amy yensi if that was a derogatory statement made towards people of low income (Ebt recipients). Do they understand that the majority of their viewership here in the Bronx could possibly be of low income? And matt piper spewing that foul language and hateful elitist tone should be forced to apologize to the viewers on air and in social media. That was disgusting.
Anne Ledesma: Good to know I was not the only one that heard the f bomb…both their comments were unnecessary especially when talking about children and people that depend on food stamps…I know of old people that have worked their entire life and get pennies from retirement not cool…and to think I liked Amy and Matt… #dontwanttoseetheminthemorningnomore
News 12 The Bronx issued the following statement on their Facebook page several hours later: