Yahoo news chief sacked after Romney remark

Yahoo News has sacked its Washington bureau chief after he was caught on a microphone saying Mitt Romney and his wife were “happy to have a party with black people drowning”.

Company spokeswoman Anne Espiritu said David Chalian’s remark was inappropriate and did not represent Yahoo’s views.

She said Yahoo was apologising to the Republican presidential candidate and his supporters, and had reached out to the campaign to convey the message.

Mr Chalian made the remark during a “hot mic” moment before Yahoo began its live coverage of the Grand Old Party (GOP) convention on Tuesday night. Yahoo is streaming coverage in association with ABC News.

The remark was an apparent reference to the GOP convention happening as Hurricane Isaac hit the Louisiana coast.