Vikings Announcer Takes Time Off After Controversial Comments
Paul Allen, the well-known announcer for the Minnesota Vikings, announced on Friday that he would be stepping back from his radio show for a few days. This comes after he made remarks regarding “paid protesters” during a segment.
While speaking on KFAN, Allen questioned whether individuals protesting in the harsh cold were receiving hazard pay. “Do paid protesters get hazard pay in a situation like this? That’s what I was thinking this morning,” he mused.
He brought up paid protesters again while discussing a recent incident where people were catching stray dogs. “Everyone’s been catching stray dogs this week. (Vikings defensive coordinator Brian) Flores, Baker (Mayfield), Kevin Stefanski, Charlie Biach caught a stray dog out of nowhere. They’re done with it. This morning, the people who were paying to protest caught a stray dog,” he mentioned, referring back to his earlier comments.
This situation unfolded just before a tragic event in Minnesota, where a person was shot during a Border Patrol incident over the weekend. Allen expressed his sorrow on social media about the shooting. “I have to stop watching all of this for a moment. I’m so sad that this terrorism is happening all around us here in Minnesota,” he posted.
Feeling the weight of recent events, he commented, “I prayed to God that this would somehow stop, and now I’m starting to cry. I’m so sorry to all of you who have been hurt as much as I was by this. It’s terrible, so let’s all pray for this to stop, and no more cheap words from me.”
On Monday, Allen started the show with an apology. “Good morning. On Friday’s broadcast, I made an insensitive and ill-timed comment about protesters and the weather. And I am sorry. It was a misguided attempt at humor. It was never intended as malice or a political insult, but I sincerely apologize to those who were genuinely hurt or offended by it,” he said.
He then mentioned taking a few days off to reflect further. “I’m sorry that I wasn’t at my best on Friday,” he explained, acknowledging that the “9 to 12” time slot is meant to be a light-hearted escape focused on sports, not political commentary.
KFAN has not disclosed whether there will be any disciplinary action regarding Allen’s comments. He has been a fixture at KFAN since 1998 and has been the Vikings’ play-by-play announcer since 2002.
