- Chris Krok
The other day we brought attention to a homophic rant by Dallas radio host Chris Krok of KLIF 570 AM, who ridiculed Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns’ recent “It Gets Better” speech. According to a report from GLAAD on Monday, Krok has been disciplined for the rant, and the station is working toward an on-air apology:
On behalf of Joel and the many others whose life stories intersect with his, GLAAD made a phone call this afternoon to Jeff Catlin, the operations manager for Cumulus Media Dallas, KLIF’s parent company. The conversation was a productive one; Catlin both understands and shares our concern. As the person who oversees KLIF, Catlin acknowledged that he has the “responsibility to be responsible” for what airs on the station.
Without going into detail, Catlin said that he spoke with Krok and that he was disciplined shortly after the segment aired. He also pointed out that Krok has not spoken about this since then.
After speaking with GLAAD, Catlin also realizes the need to issue some sort of on-air apology. He wants Krok (who’s out of the office until tomorrow) to be “part of the solution.” To that end GLAAD, Catlin and Krok will meet on Wednesday morning to discuss what such a solution will look like. We’ll be certain to let you know in advance so you can be sure to tune-in.
What sort of punishment was dealt out? Hopefully it involves some monetary pain….
Violence is never the answer =/ he should be fired though.
Is Catlin lying or just selectively leaving out details?
“..he was disciplined shortly after the segment aired. He also pointed out that Krok has not spoken about this since then.”
In a previous response to an email Catlin said “I would say I would challenge you or any other complainants to find another incident of Chris Krok addressing this topic or issue after the original airing. It didn’t happen.”
The original airing was Wednesday, October 13. As is Krok’s routine he repeated the same slurs and rants again on his October 14 ‘progrum’ and yet again on his October 15 ‘progrum’.
The management of this station has turned a deaf ear towards any criticism of KrokTalk. I’ve emailed KLIF & Cumulus management several months ago to complain about Krok’s offensive mocking of Latinos, Blacks and Muslims as well as his many threatening and intimidating rants against private individuals. No acknowledgement or answer was ever given. An apology is not going to cut it. Krok needs to be off the air permanently. Cumulus can either do it now or wait until enough FCC complaints accumulate to put KLIF’s broadcast license in jeopardy. In the meantime we will continue to boycott KLIF’s advertisers and let them know exactly what kind of values they represent when they advertise on KLIF.
I listened to those “rants”… seems to me that the First Amendment applies… further, the Councilman involved got to exercise his right to free speech in a completely inappropriate forum, seemingly, its appropriate if a counter view is presented….
“I listened to those “rants”… seems to me that the First Amendment applies…”
The First Amendment doesn’t apply at one’s job. A cashier or waitress for instance, doesn’t have the right of free speech to call her customers a racial slur or mock their religion or make fun of the suicide of one of their children, and such an individual if fired is done so without the First Amendment being violated.
Radio stations receive a license to operate on the publicly owned airwaves, just like drivers receive a license to drive on publicly owned roads. In both cases, failure to operate responsibly, in the public interest WILL GET THE STATION’S ATTENTION..Otherwise, their source of money (advertising) is cut off — they own the studio and transmitter, but don’t have a license to operate them.
@victoria: monetary pain is not physical violence. monetary = money, i hope he was fined. or suspended without pay.
@al: yes, free speech is his right. however, if he got on the air making fun of a racial group it would not be accepted. and he would be held accountable. and the station would lose advertisers. it should be the same when he makes fun gays and lesbians as well.
No apology is acceptable. This guy needs to lose his job. If calling black women “nappy ho’s” is a firing offense….(Don Imus) —- if saying “black guys are naturally better athletes” is a firing offense (Jimmy the Greek) this we should demand no less for Chris Krok!!!
@Brian..he DOES make fun of racial groups. CONSTANTLY.
He mocked the Chilean mine rescuers. He mocks and attacks Muslims and the Islamic religion. He mocks and attacks pro-immigrant Hispanic activists. He mocks low-income under-educated African-American women. He mocked and insulted tried to stage a protest against The Cathedral of Hope. This is his standard routine. He does it everywhere he works. This isn’t just disagreeing with a POV or political position. This is constant ad hominem abuse.
The only reason he’s got away with it for 8 months in DFW is because KLIF is ranked #30 (out of 50) in DFW with an audience of only 223,900 out of 5,326,500.
Here’s an example of his style in Wisconsin which he has repeated here.
MADISON . . . WTDY-AM radio talk jock Chris Krok launched into a racist tirade on his April 3 show while discussing the case of a young Somali, Jamal Mohamed, who died in police custody a few months earlier. His comments related to the investigation of Mohamed’s death and the lawsuit 29 Madison police officers filed to prevent the city from releasing their names.
Saying the officers needed protection from Mohamed’s family (which had allegedly threatened retaliation), Krok mocked the Somalis by playing Middle Eastern music, feigning a phony Arab accent (Somalia is in east Africa) and saying “Bang, bang, I kill you!” He invoked the memory of the film Black Hawk Down, about the 1993 battle in Mogadishu in which 18 Americans were killed by Somalis.
The Capital Times reported that when listeners tried to admonish Krok, the talk jock berated them and cut them off.
Krok drew widespread criticism last year when he used the words “bitch” and “bitch slap” in reference to State Rep. Terese Berceau.
District Attorney Brian Blanchard investigated but ruled out hate crime charges in that incident. Krok also fanned resentment over a Pledge of Allegiance controversy with the Madison school board, in the process questioning the right of member Shwaw Vang, who is Hmong, to sit on the board. Krok mistakenly called Vang Vietnamese.
— The Capital Times
Congrats to Krok for standing up for the straight community,we are punished repeatedly for if we treat the poor misalined like they should be treated we get in all kinds of trouble,it’s highly everdent that they haven’t been taught anything about the Bible,where it sayes [i belive in LIT:18 that a person shall NOT lie with another of the same SEX.so therefor what does Krok have to apolize for.
@ Billy Jack: if you are so straight, why are you commenting on a Gay web page article?? Oh, and read the whole Bible, not just your chosen misunderstood verse. P.S. learn to proof read before clicking “enter” on your computer.
Thanks @Tony for your help in putting this together.
https://talkaboutequality.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/glaad-lied-to-about-bigot-radio-hosts-anti-gay-rants/
This gut was in Atlanta and just constantly ripped on Hispanics, blacks, Gays and anything he thought was inappropriate for life. the guy was pissed because no one purchased his raggedy ass car with salt damage on it from Minnesota so he called all of Georgia Hicks. He defended the police raid on a famous case here in Atlanta on a 92 innocent year old woman where the cops killed her. Those cops were all found guilty and now are in prison. He repeated the N word all night on his show one night, If this guy does not offend you now he will soon.
I’m shocked that he still got a job. The gut was on 750am wsb radio and got kicked off. Wsb radio is one of the top radio stations in the nation and his dumb ass screwed it up. Just take a look at his history, He’s been kicked off every radio station he’s been on.
see krok:
https://www.macon-bibb.com/Krok-Pot.htm
I tried to have a fair debate with him without being vulgar, or rude, and he hung up and called be a liar. I would have liked to discuss the issues with him further and come to a mutual agreement but it was futile.