Iām sure Barbie was a beloved part of peopleās daily news routine down there, and thatās fine, but thereās this thing that happens when white people get too comfortable around Black people: They start thinking they can say and do things they normally wouldnāt if they didnāt have that familiarity.
To be clear, ānizzleā is a euphemism for the n-word. Most of us know that, and Iām sure Barbie Bassett was well aware of that before she let it come out of her mouth. Using the euphemism instead of the real word when you are a white person is still egregious no matter how you try to defend it or spin it. You shouldnāt be trying to use that word in any way, shape or form, even if you try to say she was just emulating or paying homage to Snoop Dogg, itās still wrong.
Itās just like the digital blackface conversation ā there are no passes for this.
Bassett has not appeared on air since the incident happened, and according to multiple news reports, no reason has been given for her absence. While station vice president and general manager Ted Fortenberry said on social media, āWLBT is unable to comment on personnel matters,ā there is no official word on whether she has actually been fired. Her bio is no longer on the stationās website, and she has reportedly removed any mention of WLBT from her Facebook page.
A white lady news anchor said āfo shizzle my nizzleā on air and got benched for her trouble