WGN: iHeartRadio Giving Award To Conservative Radio Host Who “Makes Fun Of Shooting Victims With Racially Charged Commentary”

From the March 2 edition of WGN’s WGN News:

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GAYNOR HALL: Lots of questions being raised tonight about why iHeartRadio is honoring a talk show radio personality who regularly mocks Chicago’s violence victims.

(BEGIN CLIP)

MICHAEL BERRY: Tyjuan Poindexter. Ha ha. Tyjuan Poindexter was standing outside with some friends when some people drove by and opened fire. Young Mr. Poindexter was shot in the head and died at the scene. He won't have to live with that name anymore.

(END CLIP)

HALL: That was conservative talk show host Michael Berry talking about 14-year-old Tyjuan Poindexter, who was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Chicago in 2015. Berry has called the city “Thuglandia,” and in his regular feature “Chicago Weekend Crime Report” he makes fun of shooting victims with racially charged commentary.

(BEGIN CLIP)

BERRY: Not to be outdone, the thugs of Chicago kept reminding everyone why Chicago cannot have nice things. The weekend’s “Butcher Bill,” six dead -- one by the po-po -- and 22 wounded.

(END CLIP)

HALL: Last week he said iHeartRadio was honoring him as top radio personality in the country. The Michael Berry Show broadcasts from Houston station KTRH. It is not syndicated in Chicago, though parent company iHeartMedia owns six stations in the city, including WGCI and V103.

(BEGIN CLIP)

FATHER MICHAEL PFLEGER (ST. SABINA CHURCH): It is unacceptable. It’s not something you make fun of -- these people’s children. There’s blood on our streets.

(END CLIP)

HALL: Father Michael Pfleger took to social media to voice his outrage.

(BEGIN CLIP)

PFLEGER: Shame on iHeart. Shame on them for even thinking about giving the award. The award needs to be rejected. They need to put him off the radio or at least ought to control what he is doing on the radio.

(END CLIP)

HALL: There are reports the award is supposed to be given to Berry at a ceremony on Sunday. We have reached out to iHeartMedia for comment, so far they have not responded.

Previously:

Chicago Tribune Reports On iHeartRadio “Personality Of The Year” Mocking Victims Of Chicago Gun Violence

iHeartRadio's “Talk Personality Of The Year” Is Conservative Radio Host Who Mocks Chicago Gun Violence Victims