Radio hosts face backlash for calling Sikh attorney 'turban man'

Two American radio hosts have courted controversy for calling New Jersey’s Sikh-American attorney general Gurbir Grewal “turban man.”

Dennis and Judi Show hosts Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco started calling him “turban man” while talking about Grewal's decision to suspend marijuana prosecutions.      

“You know the attorney general guy? I'm never going to know his name, I'm just gonna say the guy with the turban," Malloy said.        

 “Turban man!" Franco repeated in a sing-song tone. “If it offends you, then don't wear the turban, man, and I'll remember your name," Malloy, said as both the hosts laughed.

"But Turban Man - is that highly offensive?" "To me? No. To people who wear turbans, could be," said Franco.        

"Could be. But if you called me Baseball Hat Man and I was in a culture where no one wears baseball hats, should I be offended?" Malloy said.  

"Uh, no. I would say no," Franco replied.      

"So, anyway. The attorney general - Turban Man - says he's not going to prosecute pot things until September," Malloy said.        

The duo’s language has been strongly condemned by a number of people including New Jersey governor Phil Murphy and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, also a Sikh-American who wears a turban.

 “Outraged by the abhorrent and xenophobic comments mocking @NewJerseyOAG on The @DennisandJudi Show on @nj1015. Hate speech has no place in NJ, and does not belong on our airwaves. Station management must hold the hosts accountable for these intolerant and racist comments,” Murphy tweeted.      

Bhalla tweeted: “Hey "Racist Man" @DennisandJudi : I'm a Jersey guy, born and raised, and so is NewJerseyOAG Grewal - this type of racist garbage has no place in Jersey. Get with the program! #RacistManDennis #jerseypride #educateyourself."

US Senator from New Jersey Cory Booker wrote: "Such hateful rhetoric doesn’t reduce Gurbir, such hateful rhetoric reduces and disgraces the one who uses it.  We are New Jersey; bigotry has no place, religious intolerance no harbor. We all should denounce this ignorant and outrageous attack."

Reacting to the controversy, the radio station said it has taken the segment off air until further notice.

"We are aware of the offensive comments made by Dennis and Judi during today’s broadcast," the station said Wednesday night. "We have taken immediate action and have taken them off the air until further notice. We are investigating the matter and will have further comment shortly."