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.
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.
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.
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.
I'm not sure what Bay Windows is
can you post a link?
You would think wings that size would be visible!
>>Bay Windows
I believe it's a Boston gay/lesbian publication
Good afternoon RR. how you doin today?
Bay Windows is Boston's Gay magazine. Google it at your peril.
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...
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.
I don't want to infect my main FReepin instrument!!!
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
...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? :)
I don't want to infect my main FReepin instrument!!!
** HEH
"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?
I followed that link. Am dabbing my OUCH eyes with alcohol as I type this.
I guess he should have called her a lifelong failure instead, because she sure hasn't abolished poverty.
I may have to drive down to Champaign this afternoon, so I might not be around.
"She probably eats out too often."
Best reply of this thread.
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