CC’s G105 Apologizes For ‘Racist’ Parade Float

UPDATE 11/27/12:  To see news report video, Click Here.

Neither the WDCG / G105 radio station's "Showgram" nor its host, Bob Dumas, are strangers to controversy. The popular local morning radio show is known for a range of stunts over the years that follow a familiar pattern: The hosts enrage some of the local citizenry, "Showgram" fans rally to their defense, the station gets free publicity and then apologizes.

But this week Brooke Cain at the Raleigh, NC News &Observer reports, "Showgram" is under fire for its float in last Saturday's Raleigh WRAL Christmas Parade. The entry featured a black man dressed in a skirt with fairy wings, strapped to a harness that was suspended from the back of a tow truck. Mr. Dumas, riding on the float, described the scene to parade goers as "Tyrone the Black Christmas Fairy" who was going to turn "crackers" into Beyonce.

Many people watching the parade or reading accounts of it later called the image inappropriate and took to Facebook and Twitter.

"I cannot believe that this happened," Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane wrote on Facebook to a concerned citizen. "Raleigh will not tolerate racism or anything that comes remotely close. This parade is a Raleigh tradition that includes everyone and should be treated as such."

Michael "Breeze" Rackoff, who up until late last week was the director of "Showgram," said he questioned the concept of the Christmas fairy when Mr. Dumas first proposed it in a staff meeting. The man suspended from the truck, Tyrone Dunston, is not a "Showgram" employee but is a longtime fan of the show.

But Tuesday, Dick Harlow, market manager for G105 owner Clear Channel Media, apologized to the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association, which puts on the parade.

"Some very poor judgment was used," Mr. Harlow told The News & Observer. "It was meant to be a harmless stunt, and it was never our intention to offend anyone."

Jennifer Martin, executive director of the merchants association, said the group and parade sponsor WRAL-TV received complaints about the G105 entry.

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