Paul Allen, the iconic voice of the Minnesota Vikings, has stepped away from the microphone after a “misguided attempt at humor” regarding the deadly ICE protests sparked a firestorm of backlash.
The veteran KFAN broadcaster announced he is “taking a few days off” after implying on-air that demonstrators protesting the killing of Renee Nicole Good were “paid protesters”—a trope frequently used by right-wing conspiracy theorists to delegitimize civil unrest.
The Comment That Crossed the Line
During a Friday segment, as thousands braved sub-zero temperatures to march against the shooting of Good by an ICE agent, Allen quipped, “In conditions like this, do paid protesters get hazard pay?” The remark landed poorly in a city still raw from the trauma of the shooting, and the subsequent death of another resident, Alex Pretti, at the hands of federal agents the very next day.
“It was insensitive and poorly timed, and I’m sorry,” Allen said in a somber pre-recorded statement on Monday. […](asc_slot://start-slot-19)”It was never made with any political intent… My best was lacking Friday.”
The Community Reaction: The apology has done little to quell the anger. Activists argue that dismissing grieving protesters as “paid actors” dehumanizes the victims and emboldens the aggressive tactics of federal agents. “We are not paid to freeze,” one protest organizer tweeted. “We are here because they are killing us.”
A Career on Pause: Allen has been the play-by-play voice of the Vikings since 2002. His absence during the NFL playoffs conversation is significant. It highlights how the volatile political climate in the US has permeated every sphere, including the sanctuary of sports radio.
A City on Edge
The incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating tension in Minneapolis, with clashes between residents and federal law enforcement becoming daily occurrences. For Allen, a beloved local figure, the controversy serves as a stark reminder: in a polarized America, there is no such thing as “sticking to sports.”