Griffin steps in it during interview

May 13, 2020 Off By Eric O'Brien

KDKA-AM (1020) mid-morning host Marty Griffin is under fire from listeners and non-listeners after an interview with Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania’s Health Secretary. Levine, a transgender woman, has been the recipient of hate, as well as support especially since her daily press conferences began at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, Griffin interviewed Levine during his program. Griffin asked a few questions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and used “sir” instead of “ma’am”. He corrected himself on one of the gaffes. Meanwhile, Levine shot back. A transcript released by the Pittsburgh City Paper shows the segment in question:

GRIFFIN: When folks know what yellow is kind of sort of but they don’t even know what green is because you don’t. What’s the end game, sir? Where do we get to the point where folks can be confident they can conduct business if they do it safely and there’s no time frame and there’s no window? Correct me if I’m wrong, sir … ma’am.

[Levine answers]

GRIFFIN: How do you respond, doctor, to the conjecture that your response is jeopardizing the health and well being of seniors by moving them into nursing facilities even if they’re no longer COVID positive, sir?

LEVINE: So please don’t misgender me.

GRIFFIN: I’m so sorry.

LEVINE: It’s really insulting.

GRIFFIN: I apologize. It’s not malicious. I apologize. I’m so sorry.

Pittsburgh City Paper

Even if Griffin’s apology was heartfelt and legitimate, he has become the target of immediate lambasting on social media.

Once Mr. Griffin saw this post from Ms. Cunningham, he posted an apology.

A good number of people are not buying the apology. Still others are supportive of Griffin.

Meanwhile, as referenced in the City Paper article above, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto backed out of an interview with KDKA’s Lynne Hayes-Freeland scheduled for today. Peduto said…

It remains to be seen what, if anything, KDKA management will do about this. But right now it seems that they are getting attention. It may be negative attention, but as long as they aren’t losing listeners and, perhaps more importantly, sponsors, it’s attention.