Mississippi News Anchor Off The Air After Dropping Snoop Dogg Quote
A Mississippi news anchor has been off the air since she used a catchphrase popularized by Snoop Dogg.
Barbie Bassett, a longtime broadcaster and meteorologist with Jackson-based station WLBT, dropped the line “Fo’ shizzle my nizzle” during a discussion on the rapper’s wine business on March 8, according to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger.
The phrase originates from fellow rapper E-40′s usage of an “izzle” suffix, Dictionary.com noted, and in part refers to a racial epithet.
Longtime Mississippi news anchor appears to no longer be employed with the news team after saying, "Fo shizzle, my nizzle" on airhttps://t.co/O5tFTsac1gpic.twitter.com/hs01IyVQaL
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 24, 2023
Bassett, who has not made a post to her Facebook page since March 8, no longer appears on the news station’s website, the Clarion Ledger noted.
WLBT General Manager Ted Fortenberry, in a message to the Clarion Ledger, wrote that the station is “unable to comment on personnel matters.”
Bassett’s absence comes after she made a controversial comment about a Black reporter’s grandmother in October. Bassett apologized for the “insensitive and hurtful” comment and said it was unintended.
WLBT anchor Howard Ballou, prior to the apology, noted that the station had “meaningful internal conversations and discussions” following Bassett’s remark.
HuffPost couldn’t immediately reach WLBT or Bassett for comment.
