ABC 7 anchor Ken Rosato allegedly used vulgar word for co-anchor
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Local New York anchor Ken Rosato was axed from ABC 7 for allegedly referring to his co-anchor Shirleen Allicot with a four-letter word, sources exclusively tell Page Six.
The longtime local “Eyewitness News This Morning” anchor was “immediately fired” after “he called her a c–t” on a hot mic, a source said.
Rosato was off the air when he allegedly uttered the phrase, we were told, but insiders previously said his remark was picked up “on an open mic” and that he was “immediately let go.”
A spokesperson for ABC replied, “No comment,” when we reached out on Sunday.
Rosato’s rep would not confirm or deny that he referred to his colleague with the c-word.
Ken Rosato allegedly called his co-anchor the c-word on an open mic. Instagram
His rep had previously quickly shut down an insider’s speculation that the anchor was caught on an open mic making racial remarks.
Rosato co-anchored “Eyewitness News This Morning” with Shirleen Allicot. Facebook/Shirleen Allicot
“Being fired for any racial slur is 100 percent inaccurate and untrue. Ken Rosato had a benchmark of 20 years at WABC of supporting all equality,” the rep told us on Friday.
Brass at WABC7 would not disclose Rosato’s vulgar remark when they informed other reporters and anchors that he would not be returning to the anchor desk, we’re told.
Rosato anchored the morning news program with Allicot, Heather O’Rourke and meteorologist Sam Champion.
A rep for ABC would not comment on Rosato’s hot-mic moment. Facebook/Shirleen Allicot
He started working at the station as a freelance reporter in 2003 and was later promoted to morning and noon anchor.
The station has yet to publicly announce his exit, but the general manager informed staffers that Rosato “is no longer with WABC” via email on Friday.
Rosato’s bio has been scrubbed from the station’s website. Instagram
“We thank him for his years of service,” they wrote.
Additionally, Rosato’s bio and a profile on him from September 2020 were removed from the station’s website last week. His last tweet from the anchor desk was on May 2.
Source: Page Six
