Ex-CNN news anchor who resigned after making sick racial slur dies aged 62

Valerie Hoff DeCarlo worked at CNN from 1992 to 1999. She later resigned for, and subsequently haunted by, a racist slur she made in 2017 while working on a story about police violence

A former CNN news anchor who resigned after she made a sickening racial slur has died aged 62. Valerie Hoff DeCarlo, who worked at the US network from 1992 to 1999, died of lung cancer.

After leaving CNN she joined NBC-affiliate WXIA in Atlanta and stayed there until 2017, before resigning for the slur.

She was speaking to a black source in a private exchange, while working on a story about racial and police violence, and referred to herself as “news n****s” when messaging him, after he posted a video she was investigating.

The man had shared the video beforehand saying that “news n****s” were trying to take his original video.

Hoff DeCarlo said she was referring to herself with the slur and not him, but the man demanded he speak to her manager and lawyer.

The situation blew up and she was suspended for two weeks before resigning. She attempted to reinvent her career with her own blog, but that was later deleted.

She leaves behind two sons and a husband, one of whom was adopted from Russia after suffering fertility issues, reports The Sun.

Husband Derrick DeCarlo said: “She was a force with everything she did. She was a strong, capable, loving woman and a wonderful mother.”

She revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, before a lung cancer diagnosis in 2024.

Her husband said that she was planning a cruise trip and a Christmas party just weeks before she died.

Last month Fuzzy Zoeller, a two-time major champion, died at the age of 74.

During his career, the American became embroiled in a racism controversy for a joke he made about Tiger Woods.

Zoeller, who finished his career with 10 PGA Tour wins and two titles on the PGA Tour Champions, is still the last golfer to win the Masters at his first attempt, after prevailing in a three-man playoff in 1979.

Zoeller also triumphed in the US Open in 1984. No immediate cause was given for his death.

He was a gallery favourite, thanks to his larger than life personality, humour and relaxed approach to golf.

But Zoeller’s legacy was tarnished by comments he made about Woods at the 1997 Masters.

As Woods was on the course during the final round en route to a 12-stroke victory at Augusta National Golf Club to claim his first major title, Zoeller made a remark about the traditional Champions Dinner, where the menu is chosen by the winner.

He told reporters: “You know what you guys do when he gets in here?

“You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it.”