A Florida news anchor has apologised for storming off in the middle of a live broadcast in protest over the channel’s coverage of the Kardashian family.
John Brown of Fox 35 News posted a video of the incident – which has been watched more than a million times - on to Facebook with an apology. “Sorry, I lost my mind a bit, although it was partially in jest! I did feel better though after I was done,” he said.
Brown walked out live on air during Good Day Orlando on Fox 35 News on Friday when he was faced with the prospect of reporting the news that the youngest member of the family, Kylie Jenner, had purchased a new pet rabbit and named it Bruce, the former name of her father Caitlyn Jenner before her transition.
The programme had invited Rumba 1003 radio host Jenny Castillo to discuss the development, but after months of talking about the Kardashian family Brown seemed to have had enough.
“I’m having a good Friday so I refuse to talk about the Kardashians today. You are on your own, Amy. I can’t do it, I’ve had enough Kardashians! I can’t take any more Kardashian stories on this show!” he said before leaving co-anchor Amy Kaufeldt alone on the sofa.
Castillo attempted to make light of the situation, asking Brown: “How would you like it if your daughter named her pet John? That’s exactly what Kylie Jenner did. She got a little grey, beautiful fluffy rabbit and named it Bruce.”
Kaufeldt, who was joined by a replacement anchor, tried to carry on the rest of the show but Brown stood on-set and continued to shout: “I don’t care about this family. I’m sick of this family. It’s a non-story, we talk about this family every freaking day on this show. Nobody cares, I’ve had enough.”
Viewers overwhelmingly backed the anchor’s walk-out and criticised the channel’s Kardashian coverage. “John Brown thank you sir for being real on Friday cause you are right we are all so f’ing tired of hearing about the K,” Charles Fowler wrote on Facebook.
Norma Strickland Albano added: “Good for you John Brown! Is news that slow that they really think [we] care or want to hear about anything the Kardashians do! Please! Enough with the Kardashians. All I do is change the station when a story about any of them comes on.”
