NJ101.5 Hosts Suspended Over Racist Comment About AG Back On Air

Two New Jersey radio hosts are back on the air Monday, 10 days after they were suspended from their jobs after they mocked New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, calling him "turban man" on their radio show.

Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco, who host "The Dennis & Judi Show," the midday show on NJ 101.5 FM, said they learned a lot during their suspension over their comments on Grewal, the nation's first Sikh attorney general, who they referred to as "turban man" and "the guy with the turban" in late July.

"We had a tough week but I do want to say that we learned a lot this week," Franco said, according to a report on NJ.com. The report said the two thanked listeners and the show's advertisers for their support during their suspension.

"I've received texts from all of the rabbis in my phone," Franco said later in the show. "We appreciate the support. It's overwhelming," Malloy said in reply to a listener's comments welcoming them back.

The original comments ignited a firestorm of criticism, prompting an apology from the two that was shared on the radio station's website.

"We use humor and sarcasm to make a point and add color to the broadcast; in this instance, we were off the mark. It was a mistake we both deeply regret," they said in the apology.

"We take these comments seriously and echo Dennis and Judi's sincere apology to Attorney General Grewal and his family, as well as the Sikh and Asian communities. Dennis and Judi are known for their plainspoken brand of humor, but in this case, the language used was clearly demeaning and inappropriate," network president Ron deCastro said.

Grewal fired back on Twitter. "My name, for the record, is Gurbir Grewal. I'm the 61st Attorney General of NJ. I'm a Sikh American. I have 3 daughters. And yesterday, I told them to turn off the radio," he wrote.

The two attended a community meeting at a Sikh temple in Glen Rock as part of sensitivity training that was ordered in addition to the suspension. (See related: 2 NJ 101.5 Radio Hosts Suspended After 'Hate Speech' Toward AG)

Photo via YouTube