What had been termed an on-air clarification of controversial statements by KXRQ radio host Arnie States turned out to be more of a defense.
"I didn't do anything wrong here," States said on the "Rob, Arnie & Dawn" morning show today, in reference to remarks he made last week denigrating transgender people and saying he would throw a shoe at his son if he wore high heels.
The show, owned by co-host Rob Williams, airs in Sacramento and Reno. The station is owned by Entercom.
"I have never advocated for parents to beat their children," States said, in reference to his comments last week.
His statement that he would hit his kid with a shoe? "That's a joke," he said on air. "Our listeners get our show," Williams said.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation issued a statement in response, acknowledging the hosts' disclaimer of advocating abuse.
However, GLAAD's Rashad Robinson was quoted in the statement as saying, "They ultimately failed to take responsibility for using dehumanizing and defamatory words to describe transgender children on last week's show."
Robinson called on listeners to continue to voice their concerns about the show.
In 2004, the show was target of a complaint to the Federal Communications Commission that resulted in a $55,000 fine against the station for indecency.
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