Kansas City Morning Anchor Mark Alford 'Dancing Monkey' Quip Sparks Debate



An off-handed cooking segment comment on the morning news this week has sparked social media scorn and culture war discussion on the subject of painful and/or harmless analogies.

A local TV viewer shared this complaint that garnered a surprising amount of traction, probably because it's too cold to go outside and most people have been sitting around gawking at their mobile phones for the past 72 hours.

Here's the statement:



Text capture quote for a social media debate that's newsworthy given hundreds of reactions and shares:

"While we sitting here doing nothing I think I’d let y’all know your boy Mark Alford of FOX4 News Kansas City was asked to do the Carlton dance. He responded by saying “no I’m not a monkey”. Unsure about y’all but I’m questioning why a monkey was used in reference to this dance.

"Sadly this guy has been allowed do to and say anything he wants with no consequences. Time to plan a protest at the station."

For those who don't know, the "Carton Dance" referred to by this quote is a series of moves popularized by Alfonso Ribeiro on the popular 90s TV show "The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air" -- The dance has garnered pop culture resurgence thanks to the Battle Royale Video Game Fortnite and the ensuing & failed legal effort to copyright the steps.



Given that the reference to a monkey is the main point of contention -- It's worth attempting to explain and recognize the justified reaction to any hint of "simianization" in pop culture given the painful past of mass media and Western Culture in general.

A more thoughtful explanation:

For centuries the West has found it useful to compare black people to monkeys

However, if we're to place the comment in the appropriate historical context it's also worthwhile to mention a classic bit of Americana that doesn't necessarily have have any obvious racial component BUT does offer a frame of reference for Mr. Alford's remark . . .



Organ grinders and their monkeys, who often seemed to dance, are a part of American culture and the immigrant story of big cities during the wave of immigration around the time of WWI.

Whilst animal rights activists might object, there is also a long history of circus animals who were trained to mimic dance moves during their performances.

A reasonable person might say that all of this historical context is far too much pressure to place on casual conversation and a cooking segment intended to entertain old ladies during the morning. Meanwhile, others cite the need to inform MSM presenters as to history and context.

As weekend outrage over an alleged racist, pro-Trump beat down hoax powers MSM media rhetorical hyperbole . . . Locally, it's worth discussing this lower stakes debate over language and analogies rather than dismissing either side.

Was the comment insensitive or innocent???

Brief TKC aside that will go ignored . . .

LOOK CLOSELY AT THE DISCUSSION AND AMONG PREDOMINATELY AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOCIAL MEDIA DENIZENS, THE REACTION IS DIVERSE AND THERE IS NO MONOLITHIC REBUKE!!!

It's important to note this is one person bringing his concerns to light without universal agreement . . . So often pundits want to paint every issue as black vs. white because the multiplicity of viewpoints and arguments complicate any narrative . . . However, those of us who truly believe in Liberty might argue that understanding the importance of the individual above demographics, partisan politics or even social media mobs offers the only hope of salvation.

But I digress . . .



The only thing we know for sure is that even the subject of dancing threatens to evoke backlash and sparks Internets criticism as the American culture war worsens.

You decide . . .

Comments

  1. It was OBVIOUSLY an innocent comment. And it was during a cooking segment. People need to chill.

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    Replies
    1. They said they are going to launch a protest. Would REALLY like to see that take place with all of the murders and other stuff happening in this city. .

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    2. Pretty sure TKC took the fun out of the debate and discussion. Thanks for killing the meme by trying to explain it. Most of us just want to rant online.

      Delete
  2. There's a lot of issues they can bright to light at Fox4. Alford is just the tip of the ice berg.

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  3. I've seen far worse comments here on TKC from the racist trolls. Maybe it's time we cancel this blog?

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  4. ^^^ Get a grip. Most of the people who complain about the racism are the ones leaving the racist comments. Lots of psychos wandering around this city.

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  5. #FreeMarkAlford

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  6. Why would anyone NOT compare Blacks to monkeys ?

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  7. Oh shut up 10:34. This is nothing compared to the Jussie Smollett hoax that is unfolding.

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  8. Hey, hey, we're the Monkees
    And people say we monkey around
    But we're too busy singing
    To put anybody down

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  9. Im truly shocked that he hasnt been sued by any of the women at the station for sexual harassment,he is just a tool who is too dumb to realize what he is babbling.

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    1. ^^^^Nothing better to do on Sunday morning loser? Can’t fuck your wife? No wonder she’s taking so much black dick.

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    2. Congratulations Soy Boy genius,yes she is taking black dick being i am black you fucking moron,atleast she isnt taking dick in some alley like a faggot like you!

      Delete
  10. Alford is like the drunk uncle at a family reunion that everyone wants to avoid. Napoleonic complex and thinks he’s cute and clever, laughs too loudly at his own jokes. Unreal that 4 keeps him around. All that being said, I don’t think the guy is racist.

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  11. I agree with 11:06 and that is all I have to say on the matter. Well not all, but all you monkeys are going to see.

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  12. What did he say?
    He is not a monkey.
    He is a human being.

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  13. Mark Alford beat me and poured hot coffee from the Roasterie, then danced on my head like Carlton. He had a MAGA hat on and this is where we are in America in 2019.

    Just sad, really sad that so many evil white people are out there dancing on people's heads and pouring coffee on them.

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  14. Close, @11:37, but appearances can be deceptive - he's actually an Alford!

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  15. ^^^^ Yup, different species completely, but close enough that they can interbreed, sort of like apes and mudsharks.

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  16. Mark for decades has spewed his racist bias on air when he was supposed to be reporting the news. This latest is no surprise about someone raised in rural Texas with those kinds of white supremacist bigoted attitudes.

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  17. ^^^^ and I know, because I have had ape pussy!

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  18. TOP PHOTO -- DANCING QUEEN

    After Alford has a few drinks, he goes ape on the dance floor until they stuff him back in his designer body bag!!!



    (P.S. We'll join a protest at FOX4 just as soon as we all get back from our Chicago protest of lying Jussie Smollett.)

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  19. What really should make us all sick, sick unto our very souls, is that Mark Alford was engaging in "Cultural Appropriation" and lip syncing Milli Vanilli's "Girl You Know It's True!"

    Next, that fuckin racist Alford will be sporting corn row dreds and preachin to us all to "Do Da Rat thang".

    What's this 2019 America come to?

    SHAME!!!!

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  20. I always suspected Mark Alford was an ORGAN GRINDER!

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  21. Professional protesters; the left, blacks, gays, women, transgenders...Always looking for something offensive, something that triggers their emotions, or anything in which they can have the opportunity to publicly shame someone or go on a looting rampage. I bet you won't see ten blacks out protesting Alford, unless he shows up at a liquor store they can loot and then burn down. I can find something every day that bothers me about Nancy Pelosi, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, AOC, Sharice Davids, and the anti-American, Jew-hating congresswoman from Minnesota, but I don't go out and protest. Instead, I work, volunteer, go to school, keep in shape, and ensure I am well armed at all times to protect myself from the out-of-control lunacy that is the left, AntiFa, BLM, etc.

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  22. Man, what a nothing sandwich!

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  23. I don't care for Mark Alford either but I don't really think it was a racist comment. Take a look at Obama, where is your outrage over his white hate comments or his antisemitism. Take a look at all of the other black people and their rage against Trump who has never said anything bad about black people. So get the chip off of your shoulder.

    If Fox 4 wants to get rid of anyone it should be that Dominique Ricks, that women can't even speak properly.

    And YES this is where we are in 2019 and it's NOT due to MAGA hats. Don't like MAGA hats then get the hell out of here.

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    Replies
    1. Dominique Ricks is married to a whitey, and they had a (Barry-blend) baby boy last year. Her bidness---don't care.

      She seems to be okay, and doesn't speak in Eboonics. It was a short gig for Nicole Whatshername. Now, that one's voice was irksome, and had ginormous jaws like Barry's wife, Michael.

      Delete
  24. 10:39, an amazing factoid: Charles Manson auditioned to be on that show.

    Re the pic at the bottom of Tony’s post. Only a matter of time until some hipster takes his game to a whole new level by havin an organ grinder monkey. Dudes dress like the 1890s nowadays.

    Thanks
    Radish

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    Replies
    1. And his swarm of diseased hippie girlfriends gave Dennis Wilson ferocious VD. True story.

      Delete
  25. Guerrilla vs. Gorilla...You make the call2/17/19, 12:46 PM

    Dhominique is so hot! And mark Alford can't read a sentence on a teleprompter a foot from his face without making a mistake. I still don't think he did anything wrong. Think about his comment. Anyone who has any intelligence knows he is saying I am not a dancing monkey, as in an organ grinder's monkey. The problem is that the outrage is endemic of an uneducated public. It's like the ESPN commentator who said Sarina Williams was using guerrilla tactics during a tennis match, and a sportswriter took offense because he didn't know the difference between guerrilla and gorilla and thought he was comparing Sarina to an ape. Stupid, lazy, uneducated blacks getting all offended because of their own ignorance.

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  26. If the New York Times can hire Sarah Jeong, with the full knowledge of her oeurve -----

    https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/kristine-marsh/2018/08/02/new-york-times-hires-racist-anti-white-writer-editorial-board

    then Mark Alford should have nothing to worry about.

    Oh fuck!!!! That's right!!!! There are different rules for Democrats and "People Of Color"!!!

    Shit!!! Alford is white!

    He's fucked.

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  27. Welcome to the insane world of SJW land, where we pretend like it's 1963 and the most important thing are words. Challenge an SJW to do anything meaningful or practical for the groups they claim to represent and watch them flap their little arms, run off to their safe space, and tweet each other about the big bad patriarchy.

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  28. LOOK AT THAT LITTLE MONKEY GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  29. A man in a movie theater notices what looks like a monkey sitting next to him.

    "Are you a monkey?" asked the man, surprised.

    "Yes."

    "What are you doing at the movies?"

    The monkey replied, "Well, I liked the book."

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  30. This is so overblown. Jesus.

    You would think they were making Bryan Busby do the weather in a tire swing.

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  31. If anyone should be fired it’s shawn Edwards, he’s one step away from becoming Farrakhan, he clearly despises white people.

    I actually like Dominique Ricks, they can keep her.

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  32. This is so overblown. Jesus!

    You would think they were making Gary Lezac do the weather in drag.

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  33. People seem to think that irrational, agenda-driven, faux-racial outrage is new. It's not. In 1999 an aid to the mayor of DC used the word "niggardly" (which means "cheap," or "miserly") and was forced to resign.

    As it turned out, those who were outraged and lodged protests were so stupid they didn't know the meaning of the word. Neither did the DC mayor, apparently. The aid was eventually rehired, but a segment of the SJW left (particularly academic types) were even against that

    What we have now, and had then, is an abundance of very stupid, petty people in this country (and the stupidity/pettiness quotient has nothing to do with race).

    For those who seek references, here's a link to an old WAPO story

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/williams/williams020499.htm

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  34. OK, I feel your pain SJWs. From now on no more dancing monkeys. But there will be dancing chimpanzees, dancing orangutangs and dancing bonobos, none of which are monkeys. Happy now?

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  35. There you go using that M word again !

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  36. The hairless ape is a stupid monkey.

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  37. You will Have more people watching WDAF NOW. THREE million in there viewing audience that knows someone with to much time on there hands .wanting to cause trouble. I will watch the station more .A little more Comical fun during a cooking show. I want to see the stuffed shrimp dance .

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  38. watched a re-run of the old "Crocodile Dundee" flic the other day -

    they had a scene with Croc at an Aboriginal tribal meet -- those blacks -- esp the bearded ones..looked EXACTLY like apes ... scary

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  39. Let's get some things clear about Mark "I can't read a teleprompter at any speed" Alford
    1) He can't read a teleprompter
    2) Every other or fourth sound out of his mouth is 'Uhh"
    3) Likes to overstep the reporters lines during their live reports during the news
    4) Thinks his shit don't stink at the station
    5) Is a misogynist
    6) Is a sexual harassment suit waiting to happen
    7) Thinks an open collar look with a suit coat or sport coat is cool but especially when he unbuttons his shirt that one extra button
    8) Thinks he's cool that he rides a Harley and it's well known among local Harley riders they can't stand him. Gary Amble they like Alford they don't
    9) Has a big mouth and likes to play "look at me" and "do you have any idea who I am"
    when he's out socially even worse when he drinks.

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  40. a long history of circus animals who were trained to mimic dance moves during their performances.


    Fox News team explained.

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  41. Who gives a flying fuck ?

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  42. Maybe that explains why Twit-In_Chief likes FOX National News Network so much especially Hannity.

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  43. ^^^ anything is better then your dumbass

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  44. 3:50 Fox News is the only news that isn’t fake so.....

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  45. This unfortunate association has been made in the “West” for centuries, but it still offends monkeys to this day.

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  46. Alford is a dick but he’s right, he’s no monkey! Hahahahaha!

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  47. Wow, I knew chuck was a loser, but I didn’t know there were so many more on here.LOL! Geezers and their local news. You guys are such losers!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Don’t you have some poo to smear on yourself before dinner?

      Delete
  48. When Michelle Obama guffaws - she resembles a chimp.

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  49. ^^^ So does your mother.

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    Replies
    1. SHUDUP, BARRY!2/17/19, 6:48 PM

      Now, that's a bitchy thing to say about your mama-in-law.

      Delete
  50. Big LOLZ on the Howard Cosell reference.

    This story will end up being bigger than the Jussie Smellit debacle, just you watch.

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  51. Well, well, snowflakes have arisen. I sorta like Mark. He's routinely challenged by the teleprompter, yeah, but he's the only one of the toadies who takes an occasional shot at the administration of one of the worst run cities in the country. Clumsy a bit, at times, but that quality can be somewhat redeeming. Racist? How can you live in this swamp and not be a bit racist in the face of mayhem spreading out from the victim (fatherless) welfare culture of the hood, while that black buffoon of a mayor has almost ruined KC? MLK, 18th & Vine, KCPS all represent over a Billion wasted taxpayer dollars thrown into the bottomless pit of social justice. Now he has the gall to try for this pre K tax. BTW, Ricks is cute, great smile and pleasant to listen to.

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  52. True that Alforfd is no monkey but it'a a terrible insult to monkeys to even equate him with them because they possess a much higher intellect.

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  53. Alford's saving grace is that he doesn't take himself or the local TV "news" too seriously. He knows it's turned into a stupid entertainment game and at least tries to make you laugh some.

    Here's the bottom line:

    If you're going to have the local news on sometimes, do you want to laugh at the antics of Alford, or suffer through someone like Kris Ketz who considers himself a serious newsman?

    This now concludes our fun time poking at Mark Alford.

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  54. ^^^^ truth. I like alford and think he does a great job.

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  55. And right above the comments, we have a pic of Colin Kaepernick doing the Highland Fling.

    I always suspected that guy was really Scottish.

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  56. Mark
    Lame
    Kook

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  57. I like Mark Alford. He makes me laugh.
    I see alot of people were stircrazy from the snow, and weighed in here.
    I wanted to drive to the Tivoli to see the Oscar-nominated docs, but learned from Fox 4 that the KCMO streets were still so bad, you could not CHANGE LANES!

    If you want local traffic and weather, 7 to 9am, rather than network canned fake news interviews, Fox4 is the only way to get that. From Mark Alford and team, long may they make me laugh.

    I had run into Chris Gonzales (Mayor Sly's DANCING PR MONKEY) at the Rio Sat. nite and asked him, "The streets here in Joco are DRY from great plowing. How are YOUR streets in KCMO?"

    He bowed his head and mumbled, "They're fine. We (gesturing toward his boyfriend buying their tickets) just toured there--the streets in KCMO are fine."

    Toured? The grande tour? Like Paris and the grand canal in Venice??

    Then Steve and Jerome who live at 36th & Charlotte entered the Rio.
    "How are your streets? Safe for me to make it for your salon and coffee Sunday?"
    "Snow covered. Ironically, Charlotte is better, but 36th, the collector street, is a total mess."

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  58. Tracy said

    "Chris Gonzales (Mayor Sly's DANCING PR MONKEY)"
    Don't you mean Chris Hernandez?
    Or did he marry a boyfriend named Hernandez?

    Good to hear from you TT.

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  59. "Was the comment insensitive or innocent???"

    Can it be both?

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  60. Left Mark Alford and Fox4 mornings for good after the defamatory hit piece he did with Sharice Davids on the Covington High School kids.

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  61. 12:16--good catch, my bad. Chris Hernandez.

    1:28--or could it just be for TKC amusement?

    Chris Hernandez is truly Sly James' Dancing PR Monkey.

    Now what Hispanic group will protest at Fox 4 over saying that?

    Note: to those who do not have much knowledge of history here,
    Chris Hernandez was a reporter at Fox 4!
    Then he did a great job promoting the wonderful Unicorn Theatre.

    I'm sure he is paid much more to flack for Sly James.
    But what a sad assignment, to prop that clown up.

    He's the Sarah Huckabee Sanders of KCMO. Sent out daily to spin shit and potholes and too few plows and the KCI tsunami of swirling money woes--into silk.

    No wonder he went to see Capernium, at the Rio.
    Amazing film. The word, in Lebanese means: CHAOS!!!!

    So, different channel, same challenge.

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  62. ^^^
    That's one of your strengths TT, institutional knowledge that most readers desperately lack. When you throw your 2 cents into the conversation, everybody learns and benefits, if they're willing.

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  63. Just another DENIZEN2/19/19, 7:36 PM

    The only problem is sometimes Tony overwrites his 2 cents. Actually he's been doing it for years. Sometimes LESS is better, unless he's collecting statistics on how LONG a reader remains on a page.

    ReplyDelete

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