‘Fat lesbian’ quip gets talk jock DePetro fired [WRKO Boston Talk Radio]

Boston Herald ^ | Friday, November 3, 2006 | Jessica Heslam

[raccoonradio]

It was lead story on Ch 5 noon news; Ch 4 next came in, and finally Ch 7 (flipped back and forth). It was said that the tone of DePetro's voice in saying the comments may also have been a factor and that Entercom's
bigwigs were furious. Also mentioned that he was given a warning before for the Amorello comment (along with THAT suspension) and that was also a factor in the firing.

[teddyballgame]

You must be right - 'cause the way he said it had alot of anger behind it. Context: DiPetro was pissed that she was in the last debate - garnering only 1% in the polls.

[teddyballgame]

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent

WRKO Radio talk show host John DePetro was fired this morning after he made a derogatory remark Thursday about the sexual orientation and the weight of Green-Rainbow party gubernatorial candidate Grace Ross.

"The comments were completely inappropriate, derogatory and will not be tolerated," said Jason Wolfe, a vice president at Entercom Boston, which owns WRKO, in a statement. "I met with our corporate staff last night after listening to the tapes, and we decided to terminate John at that meeting."

DePetro apologized on the air after making the remark. Ross describes herself on her campaign website as "a white lesbian living in Worcester" and life-long activist for gay/lesbian civil rights and other "progressive causes."

"I believe it was an offensive comment and a lot of people have been offended by it," Ross said in an interview with the Globe after a debate this morning in Dartmouth. "I don't personally feel that offended by it. I'm running for governor, and you have to have a somewhat thicker skin than that."

In its statement, WRKO said it regretted the reference to Grace Ross.

DePetro was suspended for two days in July for using a homosexual slur on his show to describe Matthew J. Amorello, who was chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority at the time. Amorello is not gay.

Wolfe said in his statement that he told DePetro, "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," Wolfe said.

[Cheapskate]

I'm a recent convert to Howie's show and I don't know All the players by face.

I'm not sure what Bay Windows is

can you post a link?

[Cheapskate]

wow Those must be economy sized wings to be able to get THAT moonbat off the ground.

You would think wings that size would be visible!

[raccoonradio]

>>Bay Windows

I believe it's a Boston gay/lesbian publication

[Cheapskate]

Good afternoon RR. how you doin today?

[massgopguy]

Bay Windows is Boston's Gay magazine. Google it at your peril.

[raccoonradio]

doing good and HC ping will go up eventually

A story on DePetro's firing is now linked on Drudge. Which number is higher, number of people who will vote for Ross
or DePetro's average number of listeners...?

btw will be interesting to see the vote totals in Northampton
and Provincetown for gov. race...Hmm...

[olezip]

Someone will have to change "Sticks and stone may break my bones but names will never hurt me." ...to something else like names will hurt me if I lose my job.

What happened to free speech? What is wrong with the truth? The woman admits she is a lesbian; she is fat also. This must be the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts, a state where common sense must be checked at the border.

[Cheapskate]

Hmmmm I might check it out on a backup computer.

I don't want to infect my main FReepin instrument!!!

[fanfan]

Hmmm.

Frank Cafferty called Rush a "Fat drug addict" the other night, and he still has his job.

[raccoonradio]

Various factors including listeners, sponsors, and the FCC.

Dear WRKO: We are pulling ads from your station because
we are offended by your midmorning talk host. People are
coming into our stores and complaining about it.

--Sincerely, Drunken Donuts

---

It's the marketplace. Look at when people boycott something like a TV show/network: the "advertiser pressure". That's
what's going on here. WRKO is afraid of losing listeners,
SPONSORS, etc,; and certainly a certain Mr. Stern's
language resulted in CBS/Infinity getting a bunch of FCC
fines.

[raccoonradio]

...so we do have freedom of speech but various factors in a commercial radio station may lead them to certain decisions.

Like the country stations who pulled Dixie Chicks music
after that furor, remember? :)

[cyborg]

I don't want to infect my main FReepin instrument!!!

** HEH

[BLS]

"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."


But is she?

[BLS]

I followed that link. Am dabbing my OUCH eyes with alcohol as I type this.

[fanfan]

"Grace Ross has been a life-long activist working with diverse, low-income leaders to abolish poverty

I guess he should have called her a lifelong failure instead, because she sure hasn't abolished poverty.

[Cheapskate]

I may have to drive down to Champaign this afternoon, so I might not be around.

[BLS]

"She probably eats out too often."


Best reply of this thread.