The head of Maine’s leading news TV network apparently felt forced to distance himself from a controversial ex-employee who for Halloween dressed up as a bloodied Charlie Kirk.
“We are aware of a social post created by Christopher Fritz,” NewsCenter Maine president and general manager Micah Malloy said in a statement issued by his company. “Fritz has not been employed by our station for more than three years.”
A picture of Fritz, a self-described comedian and former NewsCenter Maine director, with fake blood spattered on his face and wearing a bloodied “Turning Point” t-shirt for his Halloween costume had been posted on social media.
Turning Point is the conservative political action group that Kirk headed before his assassination at an event organized by the organization seven weeks ago.
The Maine post parodying his murder was blasted on Facebook by Republican former Gov. Paul LePage, who is running for the lone seat in northern Maine’s congressional district in next year’s election.
“This is very disturbing,” LePage wrote. “Making fun of a political assassination. Also, a public profile which indicates employment by a major TV news station in Maine. Making light of a horrific tragedy is not comedy, it is just plain wrong.”
LePage said he only later learned that Fritz no longer worked for the company but nonetheless the ex-governor left active his post decrying the stunt.
Despite Malloy not only being forced to distance the TV company from Fritz but to point out he no longer works there speaks volumes as to the controversy the abhorrent Halloween costume has triggered.
“His comments do not reflect our newsroom’s values, our reporting standards or the respect we hold for victims and their families,” Malloy said.
TV news advertising is driven purely by viewer numbers so it’s clear Malloy is concerned that even a speculated connection between the controversial costume and the TV station could hurt his station’s ratings – and bottom line.
NewsCenter for decades has had the highest news ratings in Maine, a dream for the accountants at the NBC affiliate, which operates stations WCSH-6 in Portland and WLBZ-2 in Bangor.
A profile on Facebook describes Fritz as a “digital creator.”
A link to his LinkedIn page that until just days ago was describing him as a director at the Maine TV stations owned by a company called TEGNA has been removed from the internet.
“I’m a video producer looking to get in the business of television and film production,” Fritz’s profile said when it was still active.
Though LinkedIn is seen by its users as nothing more than a glorified PR site for their self-promotion, it’s clear by Malloy’s going to the extent of disavowing the politics of a former employee how offensive the Kirk parody was seen by those who pay the TV station’s bills – the advertisers.
