A former local news anchor in Cleveland gave a sharp response Tuesday to a viewer who sent her an email calling her a racial slur.
Sharon Reed, formerly of Cleveland 19 News and now at CBS 46 in Atlanta, was helping to anchor coverage last night for the city's mayoral runoff election. African American Keisha Lance Bottoms won a tight race that was sadly characterized by nasty racial undertones.
During the broadcast, a viewer named Kathy Rae sent an email to Reed attacking her race, calling her the 'n-word."
"You need to be fired for the race baiting comment you made tonight," it read. "It's OK for blacks to discuss certain subjects but not whites, really? You are what I call a N****r not a black person. you are a racist N****r. you are what's wrong with the world."
Reed red the email live on the air, noting that Kathy Rae had actually misspelled the n-word. She then defended her own comments by saying she "never" said white people couldn't talk about race, before giving Kathy Rae a pointed rebuke for her remarks, with the apparent backing of her colleagues.
News anchor Sharon Reed responds on air to a viewer who calls her the N-word. This Atlanta Mayoral race has people fiesty tonight. pic.twitter.com/Vgri3oXnGN
— Billy Michael Honor (@BillyMHonor) December 6, 2017
"When arguing with somebody you have to be careful not to mischaracterize their viewpoint, so I won't mischaracterize your view either, Kathy Rae," Reed said live. "I get it. On December 5, 2017, you think it's OK to call this journalist a 'n****r.' I don't."
Unlike when she read the email, Reed did not censor the word during her own statement.
"I could clap back and say a few things to you. But instead I'll let your words, Kathy Rae, speak for themselves," Reed added. "And that will be the last word."
Reed previously worked at Cleveland 19 for 10 years until her contract was not renewed in 2012.
