Vikings announcer Paul Allen did not appear on KFAN radio Monday and said he’ll be taking a few days off following comments he made about “paid protestors” in the snowy and bitter cold temperatures amid the President Donald Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
KFAN aired an apology in Allen’s voice during a commercial before “Nine-to-Noon,” his daily show after he asked if “paid protestors” get “hazard pay” for the conditions on his Friday show.
“I made a comment on-air Friday about protesting in the weather that was insensitive and poorly timed and I’m sorry,” Allen said Monday. “It was a misguided intent at humor.
“While it was never meant with any ill intent or political affront, I absolutely and wholeheartedly want to apologize to those who genuinely were hurt or offended by it.”
Allen also explained that the show doesn’t delve into political topics.
“‘Nine-to-Noon’ doesn’t formulate political opinions, we don’t bash or praise political discussions, or even focus on political issues,” he continued. “This time slot always has been a sports-centered space built to entertain — a place where we chat about sports, offer an escape from the heavy stuff, and give listeners the distraction they need from everything else going on.
“As I’ve stated many times before, we serve you, not the other way around. We are very fortunate, and thank you for counting on us as long as you have. It means more than you’ll ever know. My best was lacking Friday, and for that I am sorry. I am taking a few days off, but wanted to express these thoughts and my sincere apology, with you, before I do.”
Allen thanked Paul Charchian for filling in as host.
KFAN has not shared if Allen was disciplined over the matter.
Allen made the comment on-air Friday with former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway and beat reporter Alec Lewis.
They were discussing a theory by viral meteorologist Max Schuster, who claimed trees were at risk of exploding in Minnesota, the Dakotas and Wisconsin as a massive winter storm swept through the most of the U.S. over the weekend.
More than 10,000 residents marched against the federal government’s immigration crackdown in downtown Minneapolis Friday, despite below-zero temperatures.
“I’m beginning to wonder if, in conditions like this, do paid protesters get hazard pay? Those are the things that I’ve been thinking about this morning,” Allen said on the show.
“Yeah, probably not going to touch that one,” Greenway added.
Taking to X on Saturday, Allen explained he was “hurting” over “this terror” in Minnesota — and vowed there would be “no more cheap one-liners from me” regarding the matter.
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, died in a fatal shooting by a federal agent in Minneapolis on Saturday.
The audio has since been deleted from KFAN’s podcast archive, according to Bring Me The News, but Awful Announcing posted it on X.
