Steve Keeley, a reporter for the Fox owned and operated television station in Philadelphia, is the kind of “guy’s guy” who uses words like “lowlife” and “creep” in his reporting. But Philly magazine is now calling him a “loser” and “the biggest tool in local media.”
Last week, Keeley was chatting live on TV with the host of “Good Day Philadelphia,” the Fox station’s morning show, when he tried making a “joke” that was clearly homophobic.
Longtime anchor Mike Jerrick happened to be wearing a bright, bold pink sweater, as Unicorn Booty reported. And that prompted Keeley to ask him to take part in a “joke” he said originated in grade school.
“Put your left hand on your hip,” Keeley told Jerrick, who gamely did as he was told. “While your left hand still on your hip, try to touch your right shoulder with your knuckles on your other hand.”
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
Then Keeley told Jerrick that the school chum who taught him this “joke” would say to him, “Hi, guy.” That’s where the awkward 45 second episode of blatant homophobia ended.
To Jerrick’s credit, his immediate response was to stop and say “I don’t think this is appropriate.” He turned his right hand in the opposite direction and declared he’d rather be a teapot.
Keeley told the audience he’ll laugh later. No word from the station as to whether he faces disciplinary action, nor did management offer a statement in support of the LGBTQ community, as of press time.
Angry viewers targeted Keeley online with tweets about his “joke.”
You of all people have no room to criticize someone with style. Real men wear pink.
— Roe Germana (@RoeGermana) February 10, 2017
Watch the clip via Twitter, below.
@KeeleyFox29 from @FOX29philly made a #homophobic remark to @MikeFOX29 for wearing a pink sweater on 2/9/17 new cast #LGBT pic.twitter.com/Qg95x3s6JG
— Dan Haney (@PhillyDan1958) February 9, 2017
Editor’s note: the station where Keeley works is branded “Fox29 Philadelphia” and the show is named “Good Day Philadelphia.” An earlier version of this report inadvertently identified the show as “Good Day PA,” and that has been corrected. We apologize to “Good Day PA” for the mixup.