Muslim Fashion Blogger Doesn't 'Sound American,' WGN Anchor Says

CHICAGO, IL — Iranian-American fashion blogger Hoda Katebi recently posted a video of her Jan. 31 WGN interview on her popular website, JooJoo Azad, expressing her reaction to anchor Robin Baumgarten saying some of Katebi's comments didn't "sound American." Katebi said in a blog post that the interview "started to get hostile" when she answered questions about American and Iranian politics.

"Let's talk about nuclear weapons," Anchor Larry Potash told Katebi during the interview. "Some of our viewers may say, 'we cannot trust Iran.' What are your thoughts?"

Katebi replied that the violence the United States has created in the Middle East—particularly the weapons brought in by the U.S.— is proof that the U.S. can't be trusted.

"A lot of Americans might take offense to that," Baumgarten told Katebi during the interview. "You're an American. You don't sound like an American..."

In her blog, Katebi said both countries deserve their questioning.

"...what, then, must an American "sound like"? Are they saying that Americans must not question their government, must see the world in black & white, and chose simplicity over nuanced understandings?"

Katebi, author of the fashion book Tehran Streetstyle, said she wished she had questioned the premises of being asked about nuclear weapons during the interview, as she was brought on the show as a fashion blogger.

"Nothing to do with what we are talking about and yet, I'm forced to take up a role as an expert on all things related to Iranian politics -- a position I know other POC/Muslims have found themselves in if they have ever been the token Muslim on a panel or interviewed about their work," Katebi posted on her blog. "The title they gave me on the show was "fashion blogger," yet here I am being asked about nuclear weapons. Would they ever bring on a white chef to their show and then ask him about Brexit or his thoughts on the rise of white supremacy?"

According to a report by Chicago Reader, Katebi claimed a second interview was planned with Baumgarten and Potash to discuss the Islamaphobic overtones in the first interview. But Katebi said WGN changed the terms of the interview because it "didn't trust her."

Chicago Reader reported that Baumgarten phoned Katebi and offered a "very sincere apology."

"It was big of her," Katebi told the Reader. "I don't think the interview was malicious necessarily—it comes mostly from a place of ignorance."

Katebi said WGN is making amends with an on-air segment and a longer online video.

Photo, video via YouTube