Briefly In The News

KFI continues to apologize

Representatives for KFI AM 460 on Thursday reportedly agreed to issue additional on-air apologies over remarks made during a May 13 broadcast in which personalities on the Bill Handel Show suggested authorities “get rid of” Armenians in order to ease an overburdened health-care system.

Station Program Director Program Director Robin Bertolucci defended the comments, in which a producer on the show also said, “What the Turks started, Bill will finish,” as a “crazy over-the-top parody” that was taken out of context.

But criticism over the remarks continued, and on Wednesday, Unified Young Armenians announced that they would be holding a protest today near Hollywood.

On Thursday, station representatives met with several Armenian community leaders in Burbank and promised to reissue on-air apologies for the remarks.

Peter Musurlian, a journalist and representative for the Armenian National Committee who attended the meeting, said Handel was “very apologetic” and sincere.

Handel reportedly pledged to produce a written and on-air apology today for his show, Musurlian said.

He added that the planned protest today was no longer necessary, although he said an official recall of the announcement had not been issued.