Al Roker Backs Meteorologist on 'Unfortunate Flub'

"Anyone who has done live TV and screwed up" should be understanding of a meteorologist's use of a racial slur during a Friday broadcast, for which he was fired, according to a Wednesday tweet. The defense of former WHEC chief meteorologist Jeremy Kappell was surprising, considering its source: Today's Al Roker. Roker, who's black, said Kappell "made an unfortunate flub" when he referred to a park in Rochester, NY, as "Martin Luther Coon King Jr. Park" and "should be given the chance to apologize." "Your support means so much to this family," responded Kappell, who claims to have simply stumbled over his words, per CNN. Another 46,000 people have signed a petition against his "unjust" firing. (More on the incident here.)