This email address is already subscribed to the selected list(s). Management said that anchor Mark Mester has broken management policy and rules. He apologized, on behalf of the station, to viewers and said the handling of Romero's exit "was rude, it was cruel, it was inappropriate and we are so sorry. Both siblings recovered, and Henry wrote a memoir about the experience, which was due out in September. The reports have confirmed that the news anchor Mark Mester is no longer employed at KTLA. Romero has kept a low profile on social media since her KTLA exit, but she addressed fans Sept. 14. Full details here, The Dilbert cartoon has been removed from newspapers following racist remarks by its creator, Murdaugh Murders: Alex Murdaugh docuseries by Netflix, NBA Coach Ime Udoka scandal 2022. According to his social media, however, Mester seems to really enjoy surfing. The catalyst for the incident unfolded on September 15, when weekend morning anchor Lynette Romeros departure was announced by KTLA reporter Sam Rubin, who delivered the news after being abruptly handed a script to read on-air. Her longtime followers naturally have a lot of queries. "Lynette, you are literally my best friend. He likewise told viewers a plane was flying over KTLA with a banner that read, We love you, Lynette. The plane was contracted by Mester, as per the L.A. Times. Veteran journalists at KTLA said it is common practice for newsroom managers not to give airtime to talent leaving for a competitor station. Mark and Lynette had been working together for many years. ", "A girl moves out of state and come homes to no Lynette or Marklooks like its time for another chSMH, "#KTLA#LynetteRomero#MarkMester my morning favs", Jury inspect eerie Murdaugh murder scene where mom & son were executed, US Navy faces being totally outgunned by China in just seven years, says expert, Dances with Wolves actor pleads not guilty in 'sex cult' case, TikTok star, 28, is charged with child abuse after 'attack on boyfriend', 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Mark Mester was fired after he deviated off script and slammed his own station on the air regarding the handling of a co-anchors abrupt departure from the airwaves. Its like you guys are begging to lose all your viewers with this kind of behavior., Another tweeted: "You just lost a viewer. State of emergency declared for San Bernardino Mtns, Sinkhole swallows vehicle at Ventura County high, Sinkhole at Cal State LA; campus traffic rerouted. KTLA weekend anchor Mark Mester was fired Thursday after criticizing the station on the air Saturday, Sept. 17, according to published reports. You would not believe the temper tantrums and the weird things that set him off, said one staffer. He wassidelined in spring 2016, however, following a tabloid magazines report about an extramarital affair. We had hoped she would record a farewell message to viewers, but she declined. "Lynette, we wish you luck, we miss you and we thank you for everything youve done for KTLA. The reports have confirmed that the Los Angeles-area news anchor anchor Mark Mester is no longer employed at KTLA. As this is a personnel matter, we will decline further comment.. I want to start off right now by offering up an apology to you, Mester said during Saturdays episode. Mester was suspended less than a week after his co-anchor Lynette Romero abruptly informed the station that she would be leaving. KTLA morning anchor Mark Mester has been fired following an on-air apology for how the Nexstar owned station handled the departure of his former co-anchor . Mesters bio has been removed from the station website. ", "I will always be grateful for the love and affection LA viewers have given me," Romero wrote in another tweet on Wednesday. The station's parent company, Nexstar Media Inc., confirmed Mester was no longer with the company when reached by PEOPLE on Thursday. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mester has now been fired by KTLA for his off-script rant. She was co-anchor of "KTLA Prime-News" and later co-anchored "KTLA Weekend Morning News," which has been among the most-watched weekend morning news shows in Southern California. The general manager of KTLA Janene Drafs announced Mesters firing in a meeting. No reason for me to watch KTLA now since no Liberty, no Lynette and now firing Mark Mester", Others urged viewers to boycott KTLA for their actions: "I can not believe that you have been fired over this. During the talk with the executives, Mester purportedly hollered vulgarities that could be heard by different staff members in the newsroom. Station sources told the outlet that Romero did not want to work weekends anymore, and had asked management to work a weekday anchor shift to allow her to spend more time with her family. Instead of being allowed to announce her departure herself, a statement was read by another anchor. Management said that anchor Mark Mester has broken management policy and rules. Since the scandals, Scott and Wallace have emphasized that the corporate culture had been cleaned up. "Lynette has been a wonderful member of the KTLA family and wish her and her family the best. The scandal exposed deep-rooted cultural problems at Fox, sparked numerous lawsuits and led the Murdochs to make sweeping changes. Several sources at the station said it was common knowledge that staffers were concerned about Mester's temper and what was described as his "disrespectful" behavior to women and had complained to management. A spokesperson for publisher William Morrow, however, said Wednesday that the publisher would no longer be publishing Henrys book. The high-profile attorney Douglas Wigdor, who has represented several women who have filed lawsuits against Fox News, said in a statement Wednesday morning that he is representing Henry's. Romero, reportedly beloved by her colleagues in the KTLA newsroom, wasnt permitted to clean out her own belongings or say goodbye to longtime viewers of the newscast. 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. KTLA is under heat for the abrupt departure of its beloved co-anchor, Lynette Romero - following her 24-year run with the news outlet. I also want to say sorry to Lynette Romero because Lynette, I love you so much, you literally are my best friend. Some news that weve just been handed here that we wanted to share with you after nearly 24 years Lynette Romero, our friend Lynette, has decided to move on from anchoring our weekend morning news, Rubin said. pic.twitter.com/dnjrhCItSs, 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. On Thursday, June 25, we received a complaint about Ed Henry from a former employees attorney involving willful sexual misconduct in the workplace years ago, Fox News chief executive Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace wrote in an email to employees. Romero did not immediately respond to The Times' request for comment. KTLA management had hoped she would stay here her entire career, and KTLA worked hard to make that happen, but Lynette has decided to move to another opportunity elsewhere. >UPDATE: Nexstar confirmed Mester no longer works at KTLA. You did not deserve what happened to you on Wednesday," he said referring to the brief salute she was given. On September 14, during a segment, entertainment specialist, Sam Rubin, gave a statement on Romero's exit without a goodbye message to viewers: After nearly 24 years, Lynette Romero, our friend Lynette, has decided to move on from anchoring our weekend morning news, Rubin said. The report added that the stations general manager, Janene Drafs, announced Mesters firing with a brief speech during a meeting in the newsroom saying, [Mester] is no longer at KTLA5.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Makers had supposedly composed a segment for Mester to read as recognition for Lynette, yet he denied it, instead, Mester groused, I want to start the segment by offering up an apology to you [Lynette]. Staffers said producers had written a script for Mester to read to send off Romero, accompanied by photos and clips of her broadcasts. According to station sources who asked to remain anonymous, Romero no longer wanted to work weekends and had asked management to allow her to work a weekday anchor shift so she could spend more time with her family, but she was told there were no openings. The newsroom drama at local Los Angeles TV stations showed no signs of cooling off Thursday, as Mark Mester, weekend co-anchor at KTLA, was fired a week after management suspended him for showing support for his departed colleague Lynette Moreno. Seriously people need to show support and #BoycottKTLA and #BoycottKTLAWeekends henceforth. Here's a list of anchors and reporters at KTLA 5 News in Los Angeles, with photos and links to their social media profiles. Scott and Wallace said that Henry was suspended the same day and removed from his on-air responsibilities while a third-party law firm investigated the matter. As the Times notes, Mester isn't listed on KTLA's online staff list. On behalf of everyone here, we wish you and your family nothing but the best.. General manager Janene Drafs informed the newsroom of the firing during a brief meeting, according to the Los Angeles Times, which first reported the firing. For years, she co-anchored with Chris Burrous, who died in 2018 of a methamphetamine overdose. On Sept. 17, Romero expressed her gratitude and shared a tweet from actor Holly Robinson Peete, the former co-host of CBS' "The Talk," who was fired in 2011 after just one season on the daytime talk show. 2 arrested for over $460,000 in stolen merch in O.C. Mark Mester was fired after he deviated off script and slammed his own station on the air regarding the handling of a co-anchor's abrupt departure from the airwaves Credit: KTLA. How dangerous is Tropical Storm Ian 2022. It did not take long for viewers to voice their criticism with the announcement, with some calling it "fishy" and "strange. September 22, 2022 7:39pm. Mester had pitched producers to include footage of the plane in the segment but was rejected. His 2019 decision to donate part of his liver to save his sister Colleens life was chronicled across Foxs shows. 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