Fired Mississippi Anchor Fights Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

Barbie Bassett claims WLBT station prioritized complaints from Black viewers over support from white viewers.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:05am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme, abstract close-up photograph of shattered glass studio lighting, capturing the dramatic, high-contrast textures and shadows to conceptually represent the fallout from a controversial on-air incident.The dramatic aftermath of an on-air controversy exposes the tensions around cultural sensitivity in local news broadcasting.Jackson Today

Former Jackson, Mississippi news anchor Barbie Bassett is appealing a district court's decision to dismiss her racial discrimination lawsuit against WLBT, the NBC affiliate that fired her in 2023 for using Snoop Dogg's catchphrase "fo shizzle, my nizzle" during a broadcast. Bassett, a 20-year veteran of the station, argues her termination under Title VII was discriminatory and that the station failed to recognize the phrase as harmless slang.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions around cultural sensitivity and the appropriate use of language in local news broadcasting, as well as the challenges employees face in proving racial discrimination in the workplace, especially when stations claim to have acted on audience feedback.

The details

Bassett had previously been disciplined by WLBT for an on-air comment about a Black colleague's "grandmammy." In her appeal, Bassett's attorney argued the station prioritized complaints from Black viewers over support from white viewers, suggesting the station's failure to recognize the phrase as harmless slang reflected its own cultural disconnect rather than Bassett's intent. However, the station's counsel maintained that Bassett's intent is irrelevant, and the station acted on an "honest belief" that the language was offensive and violated an employment agreement prohibiting conduct that harms the station's reputation.

  • Bassett used the phrase "fo shizzle, my nizzle" during a 2023 broadcast.
  • Bassett was fired from WLBT following the incident.

The players

Barbie Bassett

A 20-year veteran news anchor at WLBT in Jackson, Mississippi who was fired for using Snoop Dogg's catchphrase "fo shizzle, my nizzle" during a broadcast.

WLBT

The NBC affiliate station in Jackson, Mississippi that fired Bassett.

Jim Waide

Bassett's attorney who is arguing her racial discrimination lawsuit against WLBT.

Kim Hodges

The counsel representing WLBT in the lawsuit.

Judges Dana Douglas, Edith Brown Clement, and Irma Carrillo Ramirez

The appellate panel hearing Bassett's case.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The appellate panel will decide whether to revive Bassett's racial discrimination lawsuit against WLBT.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complexities around cultural sensitivity and appropriate language use in local news, as well as the high bar employees face in proving racial discrimination, even when stations appear to have prioritized audience demographics over individual intent.