*Maxwell Pearce, a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, released a video Saturday accusing two TV anchors in Birmingham of throwing fruit at him, including a banana, during a live interview on “Good Day Alabama.”
“Throwing fruit at me diminishes the amazing Hall of Fame legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters to that of a circus,” Pearce said, “but throwing a banana at a black man and passing it off as entertainment displays an unacceptable lack of awareness. Quite frankly, I’m having a very difficult time understanding how someone could work in the media field and not know this is offensive.”
Pearce says he took part in a follow-up interview with the TV station to explain the racism behind the incident, but he says important historical information, the story of Ota Benga (a slave who was displayed in the Bronx Zoo in the early 1900s) was omitted when the interview aired.
Below, watch Pearce’s video, including clips of the fruit throwing.
WBRC’s News Director Shannon Isbell said that the station had been in discussion with Pearce since the incident and had offered an apology. Here’s their statement sent Monday (Aug 17) to AL.com:
“WBRC Fox6 would like to take this opportunity to again extend a heartfelt and sincere apology to Globetrotter Max Pearce. An on-air segment promoting a Globetrotters event with Mr. Pearce months ago was intended to be lighthearted. However, it became something deeply hurtful to our guest as the result of our lack of understanding. We are grateful for the several enlightening, educational conversations we have had with Max over the last two months. I was happy to have him on our show about racial inequality and faith that aired last Friday.”
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