Black leaders angered by KFI’s John and Ken demand resignations

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Black leaders angered by controversial talk show hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of KFI-AM (640) are scheduled to meet with the station’s management today to demand the pair’s resignations and more diversity for the station’s on-air personalities and newsroom staff.

The meeting is planned to take place shortly before the duo are expected to return to the air following a suspension that lasted little more than a week following their derogatory comments about deceased singer Whitney Houston, including referring to her as a ‘crack ho.’

Leaders of the state’s Legislative Black Caucus and others are calling for the hosts to resign due to what they call their ‘hateful vitriol’ and ‘uncivil and off-color antics on the airways.’

‘There are many thoughtful and talented journalists in Southern California,’ said Sen. Curren D. Price Jr. (D-Los Angeles). ‘KFI-AM needs to replace John and Ken with some of them. I’m sure their radio sponsors will be grateful.’

Curren is expected to be joined today at the KFI meeting by community activist Najee Ali and representatives for several groups, including the Los Angeles Urban League.

The outspoken John and Ken have sparked outrage from several listeners and advocacy groups, most recently for their views on illegal immigration.

[For the Record: An earlier version of this post said that the Los Angeles chapter of the National Black Journalists Assn. were involved in the protest. They are not participating.]

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