The News
Sunday 24 of November 2024

Radio hosts facing heat for 'turban man' comments


FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2018, file photo, Gurbir Grewal is sworn in before testifying in front of the senate judiciary committee in Trenton, N.J. WKXW-FM radio hosts Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco are receiving heavy criticism for repeatedly referring to Grewal, the state's attorney general, as
FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2018, file photo, Gurbir Grewal is sworn in before testifying in front of the senate judiciary committee in Trenton, N.J. WKXW-FM radio hosts Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco are receiving heavy criticism for repeatedly referring to Grewal, the state's attorney general, as "turban man" on air, Wednesday, July 25, The Record reports. (Chris Pedota/The Record via AP, File),FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2018, file photo, Gurbir Grewal is sworn in before testifying in front of the senate judiciary committee in Trenton, N.J. WKXW-FM radio hosts Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco are receiving heavy criticism for repeatedly referring to Grewal, the state's attorney general, as "turban man" on air, Wednesday, July 25, The Record reports. (Chris Pedota/The Record via AP, File)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Two New Jersey radio hosts are receiving heavy criticism for repeatedly referring to the state’s attorney general as “turban man” on air.

The Record reports WKXW-FM hosts Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco made the comments Wednesday while discussing Gurbir Grewal’s recent order to suspend marijuana prosecutions in the state.

Grewal is the country’s first Sikh-American attorney general.

Malloy and Franco acknowledged their words might be offensive, but Malloy said “if that offends you then don’t wear the turban and maybe I’ll remember your name.”

Neither host has responded to emails seeking comment.

Grewal’s office has also not responded to requests for comment.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Gov. Phil Murphy have denounced the hosts’ statements, with the Democratic governor saying hate speech “does not belong on our airwaves.”