Posted on 11/03/2006 8:04:32 AM PST by PajamaTruthMafia
Sources have confirmed that WRKO-AM radio talk show host, John DePetro has been fired from the station.
DePetro, who has been with WRKO since 2004 came under fire yesterday after he referred to Green-Rainbow party candidate for governor, Grace Ross, a “fat lesbian” during his talk show.
Four months ago, the shock jock was suspended for two days after calling former Turnpike chief Matt Amorello a “fag” on the air.
Earlier today:
WRKO talk jock John DePetro is back in the hot seat and fighting for his job after calling gubernatorial candidate Grace Ross a “fat lesbian” on his radio show yesterday.
Sources say Julie Kahn, vice president and New England market manager for Entercom, owner of WRKO-AM (680) and WEEI-AM (850), is “furious.”
“This corporation has zero tolerance for this type of nonsense. We have a high standard,” said George Regan of Regan Communications, which represents WRKO.
DePetro was pulled off the air today and has been ordered to a meeting at the station.
The latest on-air insult comes nearly four months after DePetro was suspended for two days and ordered to apologize for calling former Turnpike chief Matt Amorello a “fag” on the air.
During yesterday’s show, DePetro called Ross - who is openly gay - a “fat lesbian” while expressing annoyance at the Green-Rainbow Party candidate during Wednesday night’s gubernatorial debate. During the TV debate, Ross repeatedly insisted that she and independent candidate Christy Mihos were being ignored by the major party candidates.
DePetro, hired by WRKO in 2004, did not return a call for comment. Ross called DePetro’s comments “offensive.”
“I think he was indeed being nasty. It’s not news to anybody that I’m a lesbian. This is supposed to be about an election, not name-calling,” said Ross, who was on DePetro’s show only once briefly.
Jason Wolfe, vice president of programming at WRKO and WEEI, is investigating the situation. Wolfe was program director in 2003, when WEEI co-hosts John Dennis and Gerry Callahan were suspended for two weeks for comparing an escaped gorilla to an inner-city Metco student.
In July, DePetro called Amorello “Fag Matt” while saying his wife wears “the pants” in the family.
Could be though Peter was let go as 'RKO morning co-host awhile back. Prob due to low ratings--would they want to
try him again?
Oh so you're out of the Apple now. OK
Herald update
WRKO radio today fired loose-lipped talk jock John DePetro for calling Green Party gubernatorial candidate Grace Ross a “fat lesbian” on his morning show yesterday.
DePetro Firing:
The station also fired DePetro’s board operator, Jimmy Kiesling.
DePetro, hired by the Entercom-owned AM station in 2004, has retained an attorney. “I was stunned and very disappointed,” DePetro told the Herald after station brass showed him the door at a meeting this morning.
“I have no doubt that terminating John’s employment was the right action to take,” WRKO program director Jason Wolfe said in a statement released today.
“In the context of what he said and the tone with which he said it, the comments were completely inappropriate, derogatory and will not be tolerated. I met with our corporate staff last night after listening to the tapes, and we decided to terminate John at that meeting. I informed him of the decision this morning,” Wolfe said.
In July, DePetro was suspended for two days and ordered to apologize on the air after he called ex-Big Dig boss Matt Amorello a “fag” on air. Wolfe’s statement said he had warned DePetro after the suspension that “any further comments of this kind would be dealt with in a severe way.”
On his show yesterday, DePetro, 39, expressed deep annoyance with Ross - who is openly gay - for her performance at Wednesday night’s televised gubernatorial debate. During the debate, Ross repeatedly insisted that she and independent candidate Christy Mihos were being ignored by the major party candidates, Democrat Deval Patrick and Republican Kerry Healey. The Herald has obtained a copy of the audio clip.
“I could go now a lifetime without Grace Ross,” DePetro said on yesterday’s show. “She has nerve. This whole business of you know, ‘Well since we’re being ignored. . . .’ No, you’re irrelevant. Get off the stage. I couldn’t stand her at the end. At one point I was about to yell, ‘Will somebody tell that fat lesbian to shut up!’ ”
DePetro said today he didn’t break any Federal Communications Commission (FCC) violations.
“It seems to be selective punishment. There wasn’t obscene language used. It was a throwaway two-second comment that I apologized for,” DePetro said.
The radio host said his comment was taken out of context. “I was voicing on the air my frustration of watching the debate with four (candidates) instead of two,” he said. “I didn’t mean anything mean-spirited. She knows I like her.”
Even Healey, the lieutenant governor, who has been the candidate of choice among most of WRKO’s right-leaning hosts, called DePetro’s comments “inappropriate” this morning.
Ross said his comment was “offensive.” When asked today if DePetro should have been fired, Ross said, “They run their own business. They have to set a standard and that’s fine.”
Mihos said it was a glaring example of negativity in a campaign that has gotten out of control.
DePetro, who wasn’t on the air this morning, has personally apologized to Ross.
Text of WRKO statement
Statement from Jason Wolfe, Entercom Boston
After learning last night of the remarks about Grace Ross made by morning talk host John DePetro, WRKO terminated his employment.
Jason Wolfe, vice president of AM programming and operations, Entercom Boston, commented:
“In the context of what he said and the tone with which he said it, the comments were completely inappropriate, derogatory and will not be tolerated. I met with our corporate staff last night after listening to the tapes, and we decided to terminate John at that meeting. I informed him of that decision this morning.
I had told John after his suspension in July for describing then Massachusetts Turnpike Chairman Matthew J. Amorello with a homosexual slur that any further comments of this kind would be dealt with in a severe way.
I have no doubt that terminating John’s employment was the right action to take.”
WRKO believes that talk radio is an informative media that benefits all of us by providing a forum for public discussion. However, there is no place at WRKO for the use of such inappropriate references as made by John.
WRKO regrets the reference to Grace Ross.
Peter Blute is already on the air in Worcester, and this would probably be the cheapest way for WRKO to go. Is there really anybody out there today who could truly produce very high ratings during the A.M. hours? Do they want the team of Marjorie Clapprood and Pat Whitley back yet again for the third time on WRKO? They are both getting old, and Clapprood is as pleasant as scratching a blackboard with your fingernails! Plus Clapprood too often just won't shut up!
Or how about "a plus-sized female human who enjoys the company of other plus-sized female humans." That would surely be PC enough.
I was just getting ready to post that same thing.
The fat one looks hot.
You know what they say about great minds. ;-)
Should we just ping everybody over here instead of doin a new thread?
Hubba hubba.
That I wouldn't know about, thank you very much! And I mean to keep it that way.
God she's ugly
of course, the 'fat' comment is perfectly acceptable in society it seems...
(and yes, she is a fat lesbian... pesky facts)
If someone said "Tell the fat straight guy to shut up" and was refering to a republican,
they would still have a job.
With Rosie you need the additional adjective: Insane
This one is just gullible
While we're on the topic of "fat lesbians," I've got a riddle for you all (and I got it from a lesbian friend of mune... she's a "fem.")
What's the difference between a bull dyke and a cow?
About forty pounds and a flannel shirt.
Mark
Not only is she a fat lesbian...she's a fat, lesbian communist! Her "issues":
* Abolish poverty: Create universal health care & real affordable housing
* Decrease global warming, Increase environmental justice
* No one is expendable: End racial discrimination
* Support labor struggles, living wages & guaranteed income for all
* Take back the night, Rekindle the fight for women's rights
* Equal rights for all residents, including marriage equality
* Bring Massachusetts troops home, Stop contributing to perpetual war
* Stop taxing poverty, stop corporate welfare, make taxes progressive
* Our vote is our voice. Voting rights for all people not monied interests
* Free education centered on each one's greatest potential
bump
Which one is she?
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