Mark Mester, a Los Angeles-area news anchor, was fired from CW affiliate KTLA just days after criticizing the station’s executives for how they handled his co-anchor’s departure.
According to theLos Angeles Times, KTLA informed staffers of Mester’s firing on Thursday afternoon, just over a week after the station announced hisWeekend Morning Newsco-anchor, Lynette Romero, had resigned.
As theTimesnotes, Mester isn’t listed on KTLA’s online staff list.
The news of Mester’s firing comes after his segment last Saturday, where he apologized to viewers for the short segment announcing Romero’s departure, and called it “unfortunate” and “inappropriate.”
Nexstar Media Inc. offered a statement from KTLA Vice President and General Manager Jenene Drafs in response to Romero’s departure.
“After 24 years, Lynette Romero has decided to move on from anchoring our weekend morning news,” Drafs said. “We really wanted her to stay, and KTLA Management worked hard to make that happen. Lynette decided to leave for another opportunity.”
“We had hoped she would record a farewell message to viewers, but she declined,” she said. “Lynette has been a wonderful member of the KTLA family and wish her and her family the best.”
Mark Mester/instagram
“I will always be grateful for the love and affection LA viewers have given me,” Romero wrote in another tweet on Wednesday. “Stay tuned my friends I’ll be right back.”
“Lynette, we wish you luck, we miss you, and we thank you for everything you’ve done for KTLA, so many friends and fans, and viewers,” said the statement, which Rubin read.
It did not take long for viewers to voice their criticism with the announcement, with some calling it “fishy” and “strange.”
“This is weird,” one Twitter user wrote in reply to a video of the segment. “I feel like her send off was quick for someone being there for almost 24 years.”
source: people.com
