Paul Allen Steps Away From KFAN After On-Air Remarks

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, January 26, 2026 | 10:00pm CT

Paul Allen

Minnesota Vikings radio play-by-play announcer Paul Allen has apologized and is taking a brief leave from his daily show on KFAN following criticism over comments he made last week about what he referred to as "paid protesters."

During the January 23 broadcast of The Paul Allen Show, Allen joked about whether protesters receive hazard pay for demonstrating in cold weather, later repeating the phrase "paid protesters" in additional remarks. The comments quickly spread online after being highlighted by sports media outlet Awful Announcing, drawing widespread backlash.

On Monday, January 26, Allen addressed the controversy on air, calling the remarks "insensitive and poorly timed" and offering multiple apologies to listeners.

"I made comments on Friday about protesters and the weather that was insensitive and poorly timed, and I'm sorry," Allen said. He later described the remarks as a misguided attempt at humor, adding that his "best was lacking" during the broadcast.

The situation intensified following a fatal shooting in Minnesota the next day, after which Allen posted a lengthy message on X expressing sorrow over violence in the state and pledging there would be "no more cheap one-liners" from him. The post drew more than 2,000 responses, many of them critical, with some calling for Allen's dismissal from both KFAN and his role as Vikings announcer.

Others came to Allen's defense, including former KQRS host Tom Barnard, who urged critics to show understanding toward broadcasters who spend hours on air each day and are susceptible to mistakes.

In a prerecorded statement aired Monday, Allen reiterated that his program does not take political positions and does not focus on political issues. He then announced he would be stepping away from the show for a few days, with longtime KFAN contributor Paul Charchian filling in during his absence.