Reporter fired over hat speaks out

Ark. broadcaster wears Gators hat, loses job

Updated: Friday, 20 Aug 2010, 8:21 AM EDT
 

Fayetteville, Ark. (CNN/KHOG) - A former Fayetteville, Ark. radio personality who wore a Florida Gators hat to a University of Arkansas Razorbacks news conference is speaking out about the incident that led to her firing. 

On her Twitter account, Renee Gork said she planned to apologize on the air Monday, but was fired before she could. 

Gork has written an apology to the school and coach. She says she meant no harm -- she just grabbed the hat that day without thinking, because it was raining. 

"Obviously I want to apologize to the University of Arkansas and Coach Petrino I didn't mean any disrespect by wearing a Gator hat, it was a dumb mistake, I know better, I've had the experience in the field before, I know you don't generally wear any team, especially a conference rival, it was just a silly mistake and I hope that I, I didn't mean to offend anyone, I didn't want it to be malice, I didn't have any sort of bad intentions, it was just a silly mistake and it's something I apology for to the fans, to Coach Petrino and to the University of Arkansas," said Gork. 

The general manager of KAKS confirms the firing, saying it was a personnel issue that had nothing to do with the Razorbacks. The GM says the hat incident was the last in a list of incidents. 

In a statement, the university said it has no connection to the radio station and it did not ask that she be fired.

LINK TO VIDEO:

http://www.wotv.com/dpps/news/strange/reporter-fired-over-hat-speaks-out-ob10-jgr_3556227