CTV reporter lost job over Coronavirus tweet?

by Sydney Smith February 06, 2020 05:00 AM EST

Tags: Canada, Coronavirus / COVID-19, CTV, Social Media & Online Commenting

(Credit: Wikipedia)

Canada’s CTV apparently cut ties with journalist Peter Akman after a controversial Coronavirus tweet.

Akman posted a picture of himself with an Asian man saying, “Hopefully ALL I got today was a haircut. #CoronoaOutbreak #coronavirustoronto.”

In a Jan. 26 tweet, Akman apologized for his “insensitive comments.”

Akman’s LinkedIn profile currently states that he worked for CTV News until Jan. 2020.

iMediaEthics wrote to CTV to ask for confirmation and more information. A spokesperson for CTV would only tell iMediaEthics, “We don’t discuss internal employee matters.” iMediaEthics tweeted Akman.

BizPac Review, a conservative news site, reported Jan. 31 that “Akman’s profile was removed from the CTV website as Bell Media, the parent company of CTV, confirmed that the senior investigative reporter was no longer employed by the company.”

My tweet earlier today was insensitive.

My barber told me he was offering everyone masks.

I apologize for any offence I may have caused.
— Peter Akman (@PeterAkman) January 26, 2020