Anchor Mark Mester is no longer employed by KTLA, Variety has confirmed.
Mester was suspended previously for a time after he criticised on air the way the station dealt with its co-anchor Lynette Romero’s abrupt departure. KTLA announced Romero’s departure on the last day of her contract without any goodbye messages to viewers. This drew complaints via social media.
In The Los Angeles Times, KTLA general manager Janene Drafs announced Mester’s dismissal at a press conference inside the newsroom. Mester has also been removed from being identified as an anchor on the KTLA website.
KTLA the news director Pete Saiers said in a statement to Variety: “After 24 years, Lynette Romero has decided to leave anchoring our morning news on weekends. We really wanted her stay on and KTLA Management worked hard to get her to stay. Lynette left to pursue a new possibility. We had hoped she’d write a goodbye message to viewers but she did not. Lynette has been an amazing part of the KTLA family. We wishes the family and Lynette all the most wonderful of times.”
Mester and Romero joined forces to host the station’s popular Saturday morning show. The following Saturday Mester gave an unscripted speech in response to Romero’s resignation, apologized for viewers on behalf KTLA and stating in the second part “This is not how you treat someone who gave a lifetime of service to this station.”
Romero announced her departure on Twitter on September. 14th The actress wrote: “I will always be thankful for all the affection and respect L.A. viewers have given me. Keep watching my followers, I’ll be returning.”
Mester did not immediately reply to Variety’s request to comment.