Quebec journalist taken off the air after controversial Super Bowl comments

Louis Lacroix as seen in a photo on the 98.5 FM website. (98.5 FM)

Well-known Quebec journalist Louis Lacroix has been temporarily taken off the air at 98.5 FM for controversial comments he made during the Super Bowl.

According to La Presse, Lacroix was side-lined after posting what could be perceived as a racist joke about street gangs taking over his television during Grammy Award winner Kendrick Lamar’s half-time show.

The comment, posted on Facebook, was quickly taken down, with Lacroix issuing an apology and saying he “regrets” what he wrote.

Lacroix usually covers politics at the National Assembly for Cogeco Media.

When asked about the incident, the company responded, “For reasons of confidentiality, we will not comment on individual cases.”

Following the controversy, fellow Cogeco Media host Isabelle Racicot spoke emotionally about Lacroix’s comments on her show, saying she was frustrated and insulted.

“It’s like you’re talking about my children,” she said tearfully. “Saying all Black people are criminals is exhausting because I still know people who are being stopped [by police] for no reason.”

Racicot is a mother to two boys.

“I’m tired of hearing comments like this,” she said. “I’m not trying to convince you not to be racist if you are -- because I don’t think I can help you.”

Nevertheless, Racicot implored people to think twice before making egregious jokes.

This is the second time in recent months a 98.5 FM employee has gotten in trouble for making controversial comments.

Last October, columnist Jeremy Filosa was temporarily taken off the air for comments he made about the moon landing.

“I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but for a long time, I believed that man had walked on the moon,” he said at the time. “I no longer believe that man has walked on the moon.”

Cogeco Media swiftly distanced itself from Filosa, saying, “His opinion is his alone, and under no circumstances do Cogeco Media or 98.5 FM endorse this type of denialist comment.”