AMERICAN RADIO ANNOUNCER APOLOGIZES TO ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
JUNE 15, 2009
GLENDALE
The Armenian National Committee-Western Region (ANC-WR), joined by
other Armenian community organizations, met with KFI640-AM radio show
host Bill Handel and station management for getting explanations
regarding offensive comments about Armenian Genocide by the radio
announcer. The panarmenian.net reported this citing the Asbarez daily.
Realizing that the radio announcer proceeded beyond Bill Handel and
the management of KFI apologized to the Armenian community. At the
meeting with the representatives of Armenian organizations Handel,
who is a descendant of a survivor of the Holocaust, said that he is
aware of Armenian Genocide, and promised that he will do everything
throughout his career to raise the awareness about Armenian Genocide
among the public.
"We deeply regret the inappropriate comments that were made on
Bill Handel’s show and which deeply hurt the Armenian American
community. The comments were wrong. We take responsibility for
this offense as any genocide, including the Armenian Genocide, are
serious topics that should not be used as the basis for humor." Robin
Bertolucci, KFI Program Director, said.
During May 13 and 14 morning radio programs Bill Handel spoke about
Glendale Health service with humiliation and suggested selling the
city and thus "getting free of all Armenians efficiently". During
his program Handel suggested dividing the migrants into groups, which
according to him, will improve the situation of the health sphere of
the city. The producer of the program declared the following about
Armenians: "What the Turks started, Bill will finish."