![Ex-KSTP-TV Reporter Acknowledges Joke Was Mistake](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2013/04/mark-saxemeyer.jpg?w=980&q=75)
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.
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