Local Fox Anchor Suspended for Homophobic Comment About Rachel Maddow (Report)

Tricia Macke was conspicuous in her absence from the anchor's desk during the Sunday broadcast of the Fox 19 10 p.m. news, with reports in Cincinnati indicating that she was taken off the air at WXIX as punishment for a comment she made about MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.

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In October, Macke wrote on her Facebook page that Maddow, who is openly gay, is "such an angry young man." When she received an angry response, she doubled down, writing in another update, "I am sorry. I should have said antagonistic."

The controversy raged in the southern Ohio city, with GLAAD demanding an apology, leading Macke to post a more formal statement online, with a note from her network's management attached.

"I recently posted comments on my personal Facebook page regarding cable news anchor Rachel Maddow which were insensitive and inappropriate," she wrote. "I apologize to Ms. Maddow and any others who may have been offended by my comments, as they do not reflect my firm beliefs in individual and equal rights, and they certainly do not represent the opinions or position of my employer WXIX-TV."

The network would not say whether she is suspended -- it does not comment on personnel matters, the station manager said -- but John Kiesewetter of The Cincinnati Enquirer indicated that Macke indeed had been suspended but would be back in the anchor's chair on Tuesday.