Top Allegheny Co. Official On Leave After Suggesting Radio Host Kill Himself

PITTSBURGH, PA — One of the most visible faces in Allegheny County government has been placed on leave after posting a social media post Friday recommending that a Pittsburgh radio talk show host kill himself.

County communications director Abigail Gardner, the spokesperson for county Executive Sara Innamorato, "has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation," according to a statement released Monday by the county.

The statement did not indicate whether the leave is paid or unpaid.

In an Instagram post on Friday, Gardner responded to remarks made by KDKA-TV talk show host Colin Dunlap, a frequent Innamorato critic, regarding the start of the weekend's Picklesburgh festival while Western Pennsylvania was on a hazardous air quality alert caused by the Canadian wildfires.

"Do what you want, don't do what you want," he advised listeners on his show Friday.

"If you have a breathing problem, if you have hypertension, if you feel like it's not safe for you, stay home. If you're A-OK with things and you feel like, well, you know we're all gonna die some day anyway, what's one day of walking around getting a little smoke in my lungs, then go out and live your life."

On his Instagram account, Dunlap posted an old photo of two men smoking on a smoky street.

"I find the pandemonium about some smoky conditions in Western Pennsylvania for like 26 hours to be over the top - especially when you consider this: some of our grandparents lived like this every day here and smoked a pack a day on top of it."

A short time later, Grader, dressed in a county shirt, posted a response to Dunalp's comments on her personal Instagram account.

"Today, Colin Dunlap said we're all soft, we're overreacting, our forefathers used to be outside in the smog and smoke a pack on top of that. And to that I say, you're right Colin. You should go outside and a smoke a pack on a bridge - and then jump."

Gardner backtracked from those remarks Monday.

“I made a tasteless comment out of frustration, and I apologize for my lapse in judgement," Gardner said in the statement released by the county.

"Suicide should not be a topic that is joked about or used to insult others. My comments were out of line, and I especially apologize to the employees of Allegheny County that I did not hold myself to a higher standard while representing the county.”