Dog now the forgiveness hunter
Duane Chapman, known to television audiences by the sobriquet Dog the Bounty Hunter, scourge of bail jumpers, is in trouble of his own and in full apology mode after repeatedly using a racist epithet in an audiotape released by the National Enquirer.
Cable channel A&E said it was halting production of Chapman's reality series, Dog the Bounty Hunter, "pending an investigation. . . . When the inquiry is concluded, we will take appropriate action."
Chapman, 54, uses the N-word several times in an obscenity-laden phone conversation with his son, Tucker, as he urges him to break up with his African American girlfriend. The Enquirer did not say how it got the tape.
The bounty hunter says on the tape that he fears the girlfriend will hear the N-word used around the bounty-hunting operation and blow the whistle. He adds that the folks around the bounty-hunting office don't mean their use of the word in a bad way, "but America would think we mean that."
Chapman issued a statement of apology, declaring that he has "utmost respect and aloha for black people who have suffered so much due to racial discrimination and acts of hatred.
"I did not mean to add yet another slap in the face to an entire race of people who have brought so many gifts to this world. I am ashamed of myself and I pledge to do whatever I can to repair this damage I have caused. . . . I am deeply disappointed in myself for speaking out of anger to my son and using such a hateful term in a private phone conversation."
Chapman said the clip was taken out of context. "I was disappointed in his choice of a friend, not due to her race, but her character," he said. "However, I should have never used that term."
Bolaris is back - and on Fox29
As expected, weatherguy John Bolaris will come back to Philly in January, this time as chief meteorologist on Fox29's 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts, the station announced yesterday. Bolaris, leaving a five-year gig at New York station WCBS, previously spent 12 years in Philly with NBC10 as top weatherguy. The contract of Fox29 forecaster Rob Guarino, which expires in December, has not been renewed.
- Michael Klein
Brat busted
The rap artist known as Da Brat was arrested and charged with aggravated assault early yesterday in Tucker, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta.
