Ex-KSTP-TV Reporter Acknowledges Joke Was Mistake

ST. PAUL, (AP) - A fired reporter for a Twin Cities TV station acknowledges his attempt at a joke was irresponsible.

Mark Saxenmeyer wanted to do story about a gay Minneapolis couple who attended the White House Easter egg hunt but handed it off to a co-worker at KSTP-TV. While she was writing it, Saxenmeyer, who's openly gay, added some things to her script to make her laugh, including a reference to gay fathers using a word often considered a slur.

That line made into the story, which was posted March 30. Saxenmeyer says it was up for less than five minutes before the line was deleted, but not before a reader complained.

Saxenmeyer says he feels terrible about his mistake and understands why KSTP fired him Wednesday.