G105's morning show, The Showgram, and its host Bob Dumas have turned controversy into ratings gold over the years.
But many thought the station went too far at the city's 68th Annual Christmas Parade on Nov. 17.
The G105 Showgram float featured a black man harnessed to a tow truck while dressed in fairy wings and a skirt. Dumas and his co-hosts called it Tyrone the Black Christmas Fairy.
Either parade goers didn't see it or simply weren't offended, but since the picture of the float has gone viral, many critics have spoken out, calling the float blatantly racist.
The complaints landed on Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane's Facebook page. She says the float had no place in the parade.
"The fact that people are upset about it and perceive this as a racist comment- is enouigh to make me stand up and say we're not going to tolerate racism in the city of Raleigh, we're just not gonna do it," McFarlane said.
Since the backlash, G105 issued this written statement:
"Some very poor judgment was used. It was meant to be a harmless stunt, and it was never our intention to offend anyone."
The Raleigh Merchant Association, the local business group which puts on the parade, told ABC11 it is in the process of reviewing its screening process for future parade floats.
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