A local D.C. sports radio host was fired after making disparaging remarks about a female TV anchor during a broadcast at Commanders training camp Thursday, according to multiple reports.
Michael Sorce, who goes by the radio name Don Geronimo, referred to WUSA-TV’s Sharla McBride as “Barbie girl” and “that chick,” and also said, “I’m guessing she’s a cheerleader.” Geronimo made the comments on his radio show on WBIG-FM, the radio partner of the Washington Commanders on the iHeartMedia network.
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“After an internal review, Don Geronimo is no longer an employee of WBIG,” iHeartMedia’s D.C. Region president Aaron Hyland said in a statement to the Washington Post. “We take matters of this nature very seriously and this behavior does not align with our core values.”
“When I heard the comments made about me on the radio show, I felt incredibly insulted and embarrassed,” McBride said in a statement to The Athletic. “In my 17 years as a professional journalist, I have never been disrespected in such a blatant manner while trying to do my job. Their words were sexist and misogynistic. No woman should experience this in the workplace, and I appreciate the Commanders swift response in handling this matter.”
Geronimo and his producer, Crash Young, were also prohibited from broadcasting at the team’s facility Friday and did not air a taped interview with new team owner Josh Harris, per reports.
“We were confident that iHeart would address this swiftly and are pleased that they did,” a Commanders spokesperson told The Athletic.
“We are pleased that both the Commanders and iHeart acted decisively to support a respectful and professional workplace for all journalists, and especially female journalists in this case,” WUSA general manager Richard Dyer told The Athletic.
Washington signed a three-year deal with iHeartMedia D.C. last April.
(Photo: Geoff Burke / USA Today)
D.C. sports radio host Don Geronimo fired over disparaging on-air comments: Reports
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