A reporter, and mother of two, from Atlanta, Georgia found herself out of work after she used the ‘N word’ while communicating with a black man for a story.
The communication posted online by the man, Curtis Rivers, to shame her showed that Rivers used the word first and the anchor, Valerie Hoff, 54, used it back in jest.
Hoff was attempting to obtain video footage from the man in mid-April for a story about a white police officer that punched a black man in the face during a traffic stop.
Hoff told Rivers that the victim “deserves justice” but that didn’t matter because Rivers, and social media, decided she was a racist by then.
It started when Rivers told Hoff that a lot of ‘news n***as’ had contacted him to use the footage.
“Please call this news n***a. Lol I’m with 11 Alive,” she replied.
The conversation was fine after that until Rivers discovered she was white.
“I just looked through your photos on twitter and realize you aren’t black but called me a n***a,” he wrote to her.
“No, I called myself one,” she wrote back correctly before apologizing for offending him.
That wasn’t enough for Rivers, who has photos and tweets using the “N word” all over his timeline, as he demanded contact information for her “manager or lawyer.”
She was suspended for the incident but on Saturday the station announced that it had accepted her resignation.
“11Alive does not tolerate any form of racial insensitivity and aggressively enforces our standard policies. We acted promptly to address this situation,” the station wrote in a statement to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
“Valerie Hoff has chosen to resign and apologizes for her actions. 11Alive is committed to treating the communities we serve with dignity and respect.”
Many on social media, including several who are black, didn’t think Hoff should have been punished.
In fact, it seemed that black people were the most angered by her resignation.
@Valerie_Hoff No one — black, white, brown, yellow — should use that word. You did not deserve to lose your job. Keep your head up. ?
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) May 1, 2017
Suspension for “violating company policy” Yes. Forced to resign after news media leaks on day of return to work? Not right. Thanks! https://t.co/oEDnpeCXi6
— Valerie Hoff DeCarlo (@Valerie_Hoff) May 1, 2017
@Valerie_Hoff @tcpoust Valerie what you did afterward is commendable. We ALL make bad judgment calls or the wrong one each day. We’re human. You’ll be fine.
— Lavada (@LavadaHall46) May 1, 2017
@TheBrownTiger @Valerie_Hoff @tcpoust I am in total agreement. She never not once outed this young man as a nigga. I do however believe she walked into a trap with guy.
— Lavada (@LavadaHall46) May 1, 2017
@Valerie_Hoff I love and thank you for your amazing reporting Val! You are the epitome of class and style! Mistakes happen, lessons learned.
— Get On the Floor (@jbensa4) May 1, 2017
@Valerie_Hoff u shouldn’t have resigned!! This is just so stupid and fake outrage! You did nothing wrong! Moral of the story, People suck
— frank (@money7west) May 1, 2017
@Valerie_Hoff in no way was calling Mr. Rivers the “N” word. Maybe he shld think twice whn using ebonics. I’m sure she’s learned her lesson.
— FelicÃa Reneé (@PrincesaDPanama) May 1, 2017
@Valerie_Hoff More
I’m very saddened that you resigned and I hope there’s some reconsideration.— Ghetto Finger (@Ghettofinger) April 29, 2017
@Valerie_Hoff that guy saw an opportunity to profit from the situation, financially. He knew what u meant. Issue of race is a joke in US.
— Dassa Besso (@DassaBesso) April 29, 2017
@Valerie_Hoff I respect u for how ur handling this situation but that $#¡+ was funny…and PRIVATE! Ur 1 of the coolest “news n****s” ever
— D.r.e.a.d.S.c.o.t.t. (@ViPgoodie) April 30, 2017
@11Alive … so disappointed in you. @Valerie_Hoff …. wishing you the very best!
— Olivia (@olimarwal) April 30, 2017
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