Minnesota Vikings radio announcer Paul Allen has apologized and announced he’s briefly stepping away from his show after falsely dismissing anti-ICE demonstrators as ‘paid protestors’.
Allen made the ill-timed joke during a Friday broadcast on KFAN and just a day before 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis.
During the same segment he also joked about protestors ‘catching strays’, seemingly in reference to the shooting death of local woman Renee Good earlier this month.
‘Good morning. I made a comment on air Friday about protesters and the weather that was insensitive and poorly timed, and I’m sorry. It was a misguided attempt at humor,’ Allen said on Monday.
‘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.
‘Nine-to-Noon doesn’t formulate political opinions. 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.
Minnesota Vikings play-by-play announcer Paul Allen has issued a groveling apology
People mourn at a makeshift memorial in the area where 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot dead
‘As I’ve stated many times before, we serve you, not the other way around. We’re 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’m sorry. I am taking a few days off but wanted to express these thoughts and my sincere apology with you before I do.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Vikings and KFAN for a response to Allen’s commentary, which appears to have been deleted on his show’s podcast feed, but is yet to receive a reply.
Allen also deleted an X post Saturday after using the phrase ‘firing bullets’ to describe Big Ten Network college basketball analyst Parker Fox’s on-air work: ‘My main @Parkerfox24 firing bullets on #HockeyDayMinnesota,’ Allen wrote in response to Fox’s interview with a youth hockey player. ‘Such a cool annual day, and PFox taking part is a nice touch.’
Later, Allen said he deleted the post because he did ‘not know at that time about the shooting of a man in MPLS.’
Allen departed from his on-air comments in a subsequent post on X in which he called for prayers.
‘I have to stop watching all this for a little bit,’ Allen wrote. ‘I’m so sad this terror is happening all around us here in MN. I just prayed to God’s will for it to somehow stop and now and started crying. I truly am sorry for all hurting like me through this, and I just want us to be a Love Covenant again. Truly. Let’s all pray this stops somehow because it’s awful.’
Pretti was killed by a Border Patrol agent during a targeted immigration enforcement operation
Renee Good was shot to death by ICE agents in Minneapolis earlier this month
He ended the post by appearing to acknowledge his controversial statements from Friday’s broadcast: ‘And no more cheap one-liners from me.’
Critics responded by calling for Allen to resign.
‘Resign, Paul,’ one wrote on X. ‘Minnesota doesn’t want to hear from you ever again.’
‘Paul, I’ve been a fan of yours for decades,’ another added. ‘You’ve really disappointed me.’
The 60-year-old Allen has been the play-by-play voice for the Vikings since 2002. He also calls horse races.
