Ads Pulled Over Radio Hosts' Transgender Remarks

JUDY LIN

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Bank of America, Verizon, Chipotle and other companies have pulled advertising from a Sacramento radio station after talk show hosts referred to transgender people as "freaks" with mental disorders.

During a May 28 show, one of the three hosts on KRXQ's "Rob, Arnie & Dawn" show said he would hit his son with his shoe if he put on high heels. Another said he would tell a boy he was "a little idiot" if he asked to wear a dress.

Officials with Bank of America Corp. and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. said Friday their companies pulled advertising because they found the comments offensive.

"We listened to the segment and the follow-up comments, and found it quite difficult to defend," Bank of America spokesman Joe Goode said.

Representatives of Verizon Communications Inc., Nissan Motor Co. and Carl's Jr. restaurants also said they stopped advertising.

Transgender advocates and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation have sought an apology from two of the show's three hosts, Arnie States and Rob Williams. The third host, Dawn Rossi, defended transgender people on the show.