Gay D.C. Newscaster Suspended Over Fat-Shaming Vaccine Tweet

Gay D.C.-area news anchor Blake McCoy has been suspended from his job after facing criticism over a tweet about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility.

"I'm annoyed obese people of all ages get priority access before all essential workers," McCoy, who works for WTTG, a local Fox affiliate, tweeted Tuesday. "When most stayed home, we went into work everyday last March, April, May and everyday since putting ourselves & loved ones at risk. Vaccinate all essential workers. Then obese."

Obesity is one of the pre-existing conditions that permits Americans to receive early rounds of vaccines for COVID-19 in some states. The risk factor has been shown to triple the risk of hospitalization from the novel coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A spokesperson for WTTG told the Washington Bladethat McCoy "has been suspended pending further review," and that the suspension was directly related to McCoy's tweets.

Initially, after some on Twitter replied saying they were hurt by the tweet, and others called for him to resign or be fired, McCoy offered an apology. "Earlier today I Tweeted something insensitive and offensive," he said, "I truly regret my words and want to apologize. I have deleted my tweet and ask that you accept my sincere apology."

However, McCoy also responded to one fan, saying he deleted the original tweet because he didn't have the time "to argue with strangers on the internet." He also said in that tweet, "many people I know have quietly cut the line through various ways in various states. Rules seen as inequitable or unjust erode confidence in system & drive urge to cheat it."

On his Instagram, McCoy calls himself an "avid traveler" and has continued to post maskless photos of himself at locations he's voyaged to during the pandemic, including Hawaii, Texas, California, New York, and Minnesota. He also has engaged in other risky behavior, like meeting up with a Tinder date earlier this month.

McCoy served as an anchor for WTTG, known locally as Fox 5, announcing the news throughout the evening. He's a former news correspondent at NBC News.