[Update] Watch: 'Monkey Face and Poor Ebonic English,' This Denver Doctor Was Dragged and Suspended After Racist Michelle Obama Post
Update:
The University of Colorado has decided to cut ties with a Denver doctor who made racist remarks about First Lady Michelle Obama on Facebook.
The Denver Post is reporting that the university told them they're in the process of terminating Dr. Michelle Herren's non-paid medical faculty appointment. Originally, Herren had responded to a post on the social media site with the comment: “Monkey face and poor ebonic English!!! There! I feel better and am still not racist!!! Just calling it like it is!”
Herren also works at Denver Health Medical Center as a pediatric anesthesiologist. They aren't taking as firm a stance claiming it's diffucult to repremand the doctor because it would be "bumping up against a first amendment right." She is though apparently no longer seeing patients and told KMGH-TV she didn't know "monkey face" was offensive and that what she said was taken "out of context."
Previous:
When Joann Nieto checked her Facebook feed, she was shocked and horrified to see crude and racist remarks about First Lady Michelle Obama from a prominent doctor of Denver Health, reported New York Daily News.
On a friend’s profile, Nieto saw a picture of a yelling Michelle Obama. Underneath, Dr. Michelle Herren commented, "doesn't seem to be speaking too eloquently here, thank god we can't hear her! Harvard??? That's a place for 'entitled' folks said all the liberals!”
On the Facebook post, Herren, who serves as a doctor to a large minority population, then went on to call the first lady a 'monkey face'
Herren works at Denver Health Medical Center, Children's Hospital Colorado as a pediatric anesthesiologist and is listed as an assistant professor at CU's School of Medicine.
"It stayed on there for four days until I had said something to the CU Board of Regents, and I sent an email to them. If I never would have mentioned anything to them, how much longer would that comment have been out there in the public world?" Nieto said.
Herren told Denver 7 that her comment was taken "out of context” and that she didn't realize the term “monkey face” is offensive. Herren has since deleted the comment and deactivated her Facebook page.
Upon first hearing about the incident, Denver Health all but said there was nothing they could do about the opinions of their employees.
On Tuesday evening, Denver Health released an official statement regarding Herren's status
"Denver Health's mission is to provide high quality health care to all, regardless of income levels, ethnicity, gender or social background. Our staff and our patient population are reflective of the diverse Denver Community we serve. We don't condone nor do we agree with the statements Dr. Herren made, as they are inconsistent with Denver Health's mission and values. However, we cannot control the opinions our staff choose to express as private individuals."
After hearing that Herren will keep her job after her disgusting racist remarks, Twitter exploded with people demanding some sort of punishment
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However, Denver Health quickly came back and announced that Herren would be suspended from seeing patients until further notice
Denver Health said Herren has been employed with their center since October of 2007; Her current salary is $363,600 a year
