Valerie Hoff, Former CNN and 11Alive Reporter Forced to Resign Over N-Word Controversy, Dies at 62

Valerie Hoff DeCarlo, a former CNN anchor and 11Alive reporter whose career was upended after using the N-word during private social media conversations with a source, has died from lung cancer at age 62, her husband Derrick DeCarlo told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“Valerie was a strong, capable, loving woman and a wonderful mother,” he said. “She was a force in everything she did.”

Hoff spent seven years at CNN in the 1990s, starting as a writer and reporter before becoming a live anchor. During her tenure, she covered major events including the Gulf War and reported from New York City during the September 11 attacks.

In 1999, she joined NBC-affiliate 11Alive in Atlanta, seeking better opportunities and pay. Hoff had a successful career at the local station until a private social media exchange in 2017 led to her resignation.

Acting on behalf of 11Alive, Hoff sought permission from a source to use a video clip showing a white police officer striking a Black motorist. During the private conversation, she repeated a racial term the source had used, which was later shared publicly. Initially suspended for two weeks, she was soon forced to resign. Hoff later filed a wrongful termination lawsuit, which was settled out of court.

Reflecting on the incident, Hoff admitted, “It was incredibly stupid, but I can’t take it back now,” while friends noted her disappointment at how her career ended.

Hoff’s battle with cancer began in 2013, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. Earlier this year, the disease returned aggressively as stage-four lung cancer. Despite the diagnosis, Hoff maintained her humor and resilience, according to former colleagues. Kathleen Kennedy, a former CNN teammate, recalled Hoff joking about cashing in her 401(k) to “live it up” after her diagnosis.

Following the Twitter controversy, Hoff focused on her passions outside traditional journalism. She ran a travel and food blog she had started before her CNN days and became a successful day trader, reportedly never experiencing a losing year.

Valerie Hoff is survived by her husband Derrick and their two sons, Nicholas and Jehnya. Her family, friends, and former colleagues remember her as a talented journalist, devoted mother, and determined spirit whose life touched countless people both on and off the screen.

She is survived by her husband, Derrick, and two sons, Nicholas and Jehnya