In Pittsburgh, a “Radio Karen” thinks protesters should be shot on sight and said so on her late afternoon rush-hour show on Monday.
KDKA Radio radio host Wendy Bell did not sugarcoat her opinions on protesters: “Messing with a monument” should be punishable with capital murder.
“My easy solution for park rangers, and hopefully snipers that are gonna be watching this, is to shoot on sight,” says Bell, before making the sound of a gun blast. “Done. You wanna mess with a monument? Done.”
Pittsburgh’s current discussion is the possible downing of the Christopher Columbus statue in Schenley Park, as “people have become more vocal about Columbus’ legacy of violence against indigenous people and his connection to slavery,” writes Pittsburgh City Paper.
There’s a second part, showing a separate video of Bell in the dark, for some reason, telling protesters to “get out, go somewhere else. You’ve worn out your welcome.”
“And by the way, the silent majority is pissed, and they are armed, and they are ready,” she reports in an urgent tone.
This incident isn’t the first, second, or third time she’s provided caustic remarks. WTAE fired Bell following controversial comments she made about an ambush that left five people dead in March 2016—including a pregnant woman and her unborn child.
“You needn’t be a criminal profiler to draw a mental sketch of the killers who broke so many hearts,” she wrote in a racist Facebook post. “They are young black men, likely teens or in their early 20s. They have multiple siblings from multiple fathers and their mothers work multiple jobs. These boys have been in the system before.”
People have taken to Twitter, some with the hashtag #firewendybell, to shut down the host.
Wrote: @SChappars: “Wendy Bell advocating violence against those who disagree politically. This is hell-bent fascism and if you disagree, your education was a systemic failure.”
“I’m baffled why Wendy Bell is still on the air, but in 2020 it’s ok to suggest that anyone you disagree with should be murdered, as long as it makes someone money,” tweeted @AmandaFGodsey.
“There’s nothing Wendy Bell wants more than to be fired by KDKA, tweeted John Dick, believing Bell is on a clout chase. “That kind of martyrdom would vault her straight into the national spotlight. Ignore her. Let her stay mired in AM radio.”
KDKA is a noted right-wing station, with hosts who take “combative” stances with dangerous rhetoric. After she began trending, KDKA TV felt the need to put out a statement, distancing itself from not only her but to inform the public that they belong to a separate business altogether.
“KDKA TV would like to remind our viewers and readers that Wendy Bell does not work for KDKA TV, a ViacomCBS owned station. Bell works for KDKA Radio, which is owned by Entercom Communications radio group. Please direct all comments and inquiries to KDKA Radio.”