Last summer, WTAE news anchor Wendy Bell made headlines when, during a segment about sunscreen, she told her African-American co-anchor, Andrew Stockey, “I want whatever you’re using.”
Such on-air gaffes aren’t uncommon in the world of live television and radio broadcasting. But while comical or offensive blunders like Bell’s are usually received by viewers and listeners with a quick chuckle or a wag of the finger, sometimes they’re the subject of formal complaints filed with the Federal Communications Commission. City Paper recently asked the FCC for a list of all complaints filed against Pittsburgh television and radio stations in the past year. Here’s a sampling:
Station: WPXI/NBC
Date of complaint: June 10, 2010
Complaint: “Guest on show said ‘Cunt’ twice. Followed by the anchor saying ‘… that’s ok.’ On network TV in the morning?”
Station: WTAE/ABC
Date of complaint: July 29, 2010
Complaint: “During the newscast at 11 pm on July 29, 2010, right before the weather forecast, and while talking with Meteorologist Stephen Cropper, Wendy [Bell] uttered the German expression: ‘Oh [scheisse]!’ which translates as ‘oh, shit!’ Isn’t that punishable?”
Station: WTAE/ABC
Date of complaint: July 30, 2010
Complaint: “Wendy Bell, in response to a question from the weather man, responded ‘Oh, scheisse’. This is German for ‘o[h], shit’. This is an inappropriate comment in any language on a regular news broadcast.”
Station: WTAE/ABC
Date of complaint: Jan. 10, 2011
Complaint: “While watching the weather segment at 9:50 am est., the female weather person said the word ‘fuck.’ She was trying to say ‘weather front’ instead she said ‘weather fuck.’ With no apology she continued through with her news cast.”
Station: WPGB/104.7 FM
Date of complaint: Feb. 22, 2011
Complaint: “I heard Rush Limbaugh say that the students in Wisconsin can’t ‘fricken’ read. Fricken is a substitute for fucken [sic]. We all knew what he meant.”
This article appears in May 19-25, 2011.
Wendy Bell is super hot and when she talks dirty, it makes the viewing even better !
Stop being such whiney a-holes…
I think Wendy is a good and caring journalist. She is not boring and she’s very attractive .Its a shame that people act like they’ve never said a bad word. People in glass houses. ……
Ashley Dougherty is so annoying with her nonsense chit chat and giggling when she is on air with Jackie Kane. It would be nice to just hear the weather and the news. I’ve switched networks because it is so annoying.
This is not acceptable for on air reporter.
https://www.facebook.com/krissa.caroff/posts/10209049907270469
WTAE’s Wendy Bell Gives Local Man Hope Women Can Be His Equal http://www.breakingburgh.com/female-news-a…
WTAE will lose many, many viewers if they let Wendy Bell go. I agree that her comments were a bit off color BUT, sadly, they’re probably accurate.
A reprimand is in line. Let her apologize & move on. Besides, WTAE might more Michelle Wright back to evening news and no one can stand her!
WTAE’s decision to fire Wendy Bell over her comment is why I will be watching another channel for news. That action was way to politically correct for me.
Nancy
Remember Jesus saying” forgive them father for they know not what they do”Please let her raise her children and be a good Wife,mother,and friend!!!!!!p.s. there were 7 presidents b4 George Washington and that says what?
How can you NOT think that way when it is on the news every single morning!! Not sometimes, every. single. morning. She is speaking based on what she sees and reports on.
I think Wendy Bell is too good for local network news. I hope CBS and NBC are looking for a Worldwide anchors like Ms Bell. She’s big league stuff. How silly this whole thing is!!!
Jennifer
What will happen when/if Wendy Bell turns out correct? Is WTAE man enough to apologize to her,in public? Probably not,because they may not want to report the truth-
People need to get over it. Quit being so touchy feely. You cant say anything anymore with out feelings being hurt. People are no longer allowed to have a different opinion anymore with out being criticized. So sick of this “politically correct” world we all now live in. So sad!!!!
I am sick of everyone apologizing for everything. Stick to your guns! This politically correct bullshit needs to stop. I’m so glad that I don’t think I have to be perfect like all these whining idiots crying about somebody saying something they think is offensive. Got over yourself!