Buffalo Radio: WGRF Fires Rob Lederman For Racist Language

Rob Lederman

Cumulus Media said late Wednesday that it had fired WGRF 97 Rock "Morning Bull" host Rob Lederman following an on-air exchange in which he compared toaster settings to the tone of Black women’s skin.

The conversation drew swift condemnation and led Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to cancel its advertising with the station, reports The Buffalo News.

A statement from Cumulus late Wednesday said Lederman's comments were in direct violation of the company's programming principles and that "the remainder of the show's on-air talent" had been suspended. The other two people involved in the conversation were lead host Rich "Bull" Gaenzler and co-host Chris Klein.

"We apologize, and deeply regret the incident," the company's statement said.

Lederman, meanwhile, told The Buffalo News that he was “horrified” by his words after he listened to a recording.

“I could easily see how someone could be offended by that. I get that,” said Lederman, who added, “It sounds terrible, and it is terrible.”

In a 45-second audio clip shared on Twitter by Marcel Louis-Jacques, a Buffalo Bills beat reporter for ESPN NFL Nation, the conversation appeared to initially be  focused on the morning ritual of making toast. Gaenzler noted how high he likes his toaster setting. Lederman followed up by saying, “I may get into trouble for this,” and then described how he likens his toaster settings to women “I find to be attractive.”

Lederman then cited the names of two famous Black women, and at one point answered a question from Klein about a third woman. The only audible response from Gaenzler in the short clip circulating on social media is a single word: “OK.”

Carter, who recently moved from Buffalo, called on the Buffalo Association of Black Journalists to address the issue. (Carter is ending her term as president of the organization.) The BABJ, in turn, tweeted, “We are extremely disappointed and disgusted. Station leadership @97RockBuffalo can expect a follow up from our board.”

Reached Wednesday evening by The News, Lederman, who is also a longtime stand-up comic and owner of Rob’s Comedy Playhouse in Williamsville, said his words were guilty of “ignorance as opposed to malicious intent. Was it stupid? Yes. Was it funny? No, it was embarrassing once I heard it.”

Lederman's firing ends a lengthy and high-profile career at 97 Rock. The Amherst native was a nationally touring comic in the 1980s before joining the radio station in 1991. Working for 24 years alongside Buffalo broadcasting legend Larry Norton, he became a fixture on the radio and active with charities both in his work as a businessman and broadcaster.