A former CNN anchor, Valerie Hoff DeCarlo, passed away last week at 62 following a battle with lung cancer. She had previously faced controversy after being banned from journalism for using the N-word during a private conversation with a Black source.
Hoff DeCarlo worked at CNN from 1992 until 1999 and later spent almost two decades as an anchor and consumer reporter at WXIA, an NBC affiliate in Atlanta, until 2017.
In 2017, while investigating issues related to racism and police brutality, she referred to herself as a “reporter” in a private message about a video being circulated. The Black man who posted the video claimed that many in the media were trying to get access to it, as reported by a local outlet.
The man remarked that if Hoff DeCarlo felt free to use such language with him, it likely wasn’t an isolated incident. This led to a cascade of events; she attempted to clarify that her comment was about herself but it escalated, ultimately resulting in her suspension for two weeks, after which she resigned.
Since the incident, Hoff DeCarlo had sought to re-enter the industry as a citizen journalist through her now-deleted blog.
She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 and was later informed in 2024 that her lung cancer had reached stage 4. Before she died, she had plans for a family cruise and a Christmas gathering, according to friends.
Described by her husband as a strong and loving woman, Hoff DeCarlo is remembered not only for her professional life but also for sharing her personal journey, including her family’s adoption story and her health battles.
