Radio host fired after comparing skin tones of Black women to toast

A radio host in Buffalo, New York, was fired after he compared Black women's skin tones to toasted bread, CBS affiliate WIVB reported. Cumulus Media, the owner of 97 Rock, announced Wednesday that "Morning Bull" radio host Rob Lederman was let go and his other co-hosts, Rich Gaenzler and Chris Klein, were suspended after they engaged in a conversation rating Black women according to their skin tone.

"Cumulus Media operates from a clearly-defined set of programming principles and there is no question that Rob Lederman's comments made on 'The Morning Bull Show' are in direct violation of those principles," a spokesperson for the company said in a statement to WIVB. "We swiftly terminated him and suspended the remainder of the show's on-air talent. We apologize, and deeply regret the incident." On the show, Lederman said he "would never go with Serena Williams level, but I'm very comfortable at a Halle Berry level."