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Longtime Minnesota Vikings announcer Paul Allen said he was taking a few days off from his radio show after making comments about “paid protesters” Friday.
KFAN’s Allen wondered if those protesting in the extreme cold were receiving hazard pay.
“In conditions like this, do paid protesters get hazard pay? Those are the things I was thinking about this morning,” Allen said Friday.
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Minnesota Vikings play-by-play announcer Paul Allen walks the field before an NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on November 10, 2024. (Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Allen again referenced paid protesters when he mentioned people catching stray animals.
“Everybody’s catching stray animals this week. (Vikings defensive coordinator Brian) Flores, Baker (Mayfield) Kevin Stefanski, Charlie ‘Biyatch’ caught one out of nowhere. They’re everywhere, paid protesters caught one this morning,” Allen said, referring to his previous comments.
Allen’s comments came before a Border Patrol-involved shooting left one man dead in Minnesota over the weekend. He posted about the shooting on Saturday.
“I need to stop watching all this for a little while. I’m so sad that this terror is happening all around us here in Minnesota,” Allen posted on X.
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Minnesota Vikings radio commentator Paul Allen looks on before the NFL game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 4, 2026. (Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I just prayed to God’s will that this would somehow stop and now I started crying. I’m so sorry for everyone who is suffering like me through this, and I just want us to be a covenant of love again. I really do. Let’s all pray that this will stop somehow because it’s horrible. And no more cheap one-liners from me.”
He opened Monday’s show with an apology.
“Hello. I made a comment on-air Friday about protesters and the weather that was insensitive and poorly timed. And I’m sorry. It was a misguided attempt at humor. And while it was never intended or a political affront, I absolutely and wholeheartedly want to apologize to those who were genuinely hurt or offended by it,” Allen said.
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Minnesota Vikings radio announcer Paul Allen (left) greets general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (right) before the preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 10, 2024. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
“‘Nine-to-Noon’ does not express political opinions. We do not disparage or praise political discussions, or even focus on political issues. This timeslot has always been a sports-centric space, built for entertainment, a place where we discuss sports, provide an escape from the heavy stuff, and give listeners the distraction they need from everything that’s going on. As I’ve said many times before, we serve you, not the other way around. We are very lucky and thank you for having us for as long as you have. It means more than you will ever know.
“I didn’t do my best on Friday and I’m sorry for that. I’m taking a few days off but I wanted to express these thoughts and my sincere apologies before doing so. We thank our friend Paul Charchian for handling ‘Nine to Noon’ today.”
KFAN did not say whether Allen was disciplined for the comment. He has worked at KFAN since 1998 and has been the Vikings radio play-by-play announcer since 2002.
