Buffalo Radio: Cumulus Apologizes For Airing Polish Jokes

Morning-show personalities on WGRF 96.9 FM 97 Rock were just trying to be funny last week when they solicited Polish jokes from callers on one of the biggest days of the year in Polish-American culture, according to radio station management.

The Buffalo News reports the station apologized "to any and all that were offended," according to the statement from Cumulus Media Buffalo.

97 Rock drew flak over the jokes from Morning-show personalities after they solicited Polish jokes from callers on one of the biggest days of the year in Polish-American culture, according to radio station management.

But the on-air talent "used poor judgment" when they put the callers on the radio on Dyngus Day, the day after Easter, the station's owner said Monday in a statement.  Dyngus Day is popular in Buffalo. Between 40,000 and 50,000 people gathered for last week's parade and celebration in and around the Central Terminal.

One of last week's leading critics of 97 Rock said he accepted the station's apology.

"The folks at 97 Rock made a heartfelt apology and I think the entire Polish community can take it to heart ourselves," Eddy Dobosiewicz said in an email. "It's especially easy to believe they're contrite when you take into account all the truly positive things they've done for Western New York."

As part of the fallout, the station has been receiving and responding to "many disturbing emails," according to Steve Bearance, vice president of Cumulus Media Buffalo. In addition to the emails, Bearance said someone threw a rock through a window of the radio station's van over the weekend.

Here's the full statement:

"At 97 Rock and all of our Cumulus stations, we take listener feedback very seriously. Last week, our 97 Rock morning team used poor judgement when taking calls from listeners with Polish jokes, trying to bring humor to a day of celebration, and we sincerely apologize to any and all that were offended. Our team apologized on air last Friday and individually to those listeners that contacted us directly. 

"We are here to support the Buffalo community," the statement continued, "and have supported the Dyngus Day Parade and celebration, among many other community events, for several years. We will continue to support the parade and celebration in a more positive way in the future."