I listened to Jennifer Valentyne's twitter post in its entirety.
For a bit of context, I used to regularly listen to Derringer in the mornings. From the time he was hired to replace Stern (which I thought was brilliant as I found Stern to be insufferable) until pretty much when they brought Jennifer Valentyne onto the show. To be upfront, I thought that Jennifer Valentyne was terrible in her role. She was not cut out in the least for quick thinking, off the cuff interesting banter like you need in morning radio. Her previous experience was Good Morning Toronto TV shows. (I can't remember which, and I'm too lazy to look it up and I've never been a fan of the format and never watched or listened to it because it's shit frankly.) Thing is in TV morning shows, if you are doing a segment that is being taped, you can just do it over again. Anyway, I used to LOVE when Maureen Holloway was on the air on Q107 in the mornings and (I thought) there was great chemistry between her and Derringer. (Who the fuck knows, it all could just be an act.) When Auntie Mo left for her own show, I was so happy for her to get her own show, but I didn't follow here to 98.10 because they play shit music and Q107 plays at least some good music. So I stuck with Derringer. But I have to say, Derringer without Auntie Mo was like French fries without the ketchup. It just didn't work.
So then Q brought Jennifer Valentyne on board and I thought, "well, Derringer needs a woman to broaden the reach of the show and make for some interesting back and forth" (like Maureen Holloway did), but Valentyne just didn't have the chops. And she certainly could not keep up with Derringer. (Holloway certainly could, but she was seldom in studio, most of the time, she was working out of her house and dialed into all the various corus channels.) I knew the writing was on the wall for Valentyne and was not surprised when she left / got fired. She kind of deserved it for being lousy at her job.
In listening to Valentyne's twitter post, she did not say that Derringer sexually harassed her, but that he was abusive. Big difference. If he was sexually harassing her, he immediately crossed a line. But just being a prick to her? I'm not so sure.
I've worked in some pretty fucked up environments myself. It's definitely never easy. I've been in fist fights with other parties that I was working with, I've been in knock 'em out scream fests (usually about money), I've had to deal with liars, thieves, cheats, verbal abuse, petty rumours, lazy asses, shitty clients who don't pay, subcontractors who fuck up on their bids and expect me to pay more for their fuck ups (if I want them to follow through on their subcontract), I've been threatened with lawsuits, I've launched lawsuits, I've had to deal with clients who were complete rapists (metaphorically speaking) and think that they get everything under the sun and not what's written in the contract, I've been owed millions of dollars from clients and not been paid for over a year, other parties throwing things. It's not safe out there.
Should I have to deal with all of the above?
No. But I put on my big boy pants and pull my helmet on tight and figure out a fucking way around it.
I guess my point is that life is not fair. Nobody ever said it was.
So if Derringer sexually harassed her, he should be fired. If he made inappropriate remarks about her appearance or made her act in a sexually demeaning manner, he should be fired. But if he was just a prick to her, well, I'm sure he's got his side of the story. I will leave that up to corus on that.
And they sure as fuck should not be smoking or vaping in the studio. That has to stop and if it doesn't they should all be fired. That's a toxic ride that no-one should have to put up with.
Which complaint in particular?You said you listened to her post, but never addressed her complaint.
Boom… excessive Vaping in the studio.Which complaint in particular?
She complained not only about her time at Q107 (presumably) but about her entire career in media, how she was let go from Q107 and then hired on elsewhere in corus only to be fired from that job (She claimed that she was transferred only as a ruse to fire her).
She complained about the vaping several times, which I agree with is intolerable.
She complained about an abusive work environment.
But she did not state that she was sexually harassed.
She complained about how she was treated throughout her career. (She only worked with Derringer for a year or two I believe.)
Yes, I referred to her claim about vaping in the studio in my first post and I agree that it should not be happening. As a nonsmoker, I don't feel that people should be allowed to smoke in public places where other people are exposed to their second hand smoke. Not even outdoors. Same goes for vaping and pot smokers. I see people walking down the street every minute of every day smoking joints and forcing the stench on people who don't like it. If it were up to me, I'd arrest each and every one of them and toss them in jail.Boom… excessive Vaping in the studio.
They certainly found a convent time to let him go, he had some health issues then they never renewed his contract...then he went on tour. He vanished without a wordAnyone hear why Kim Mitchell was let go --- way back .
One of the ladies who commented on twitter lumped Kim in with the rest of them
Because it’s John’s show. Also… probably poor management. I would also suspect it happens in many radio booths.Yes, I referred to her claim about vaping in the studio in my first post and I agree that it should not be happening. As a nonsmoker, I don't feel that people should be allowed to smoke in public places where other people are exposed to their second hand smoke. Not even outdoors. Same goes for vaping and pot smokers. I see people walking down the street every minute of every day smoking joints and forcing the stench on people who don't like it. If it were up to me, I'd arrest each and every one of them and toss them in jail.
But it begs the question, why did the management of corus permit vaping to happen at all? That should not be hard to control. It's no different than smoking. That needs to stop.
I started to rewatch Valentyne's twitter post again, but again, found she was not happy and claimed it was an abusive environment both at Q107 and in the media in general. But she stopped short of claiming sexual assault or sexual harassment other than being asked to standup and twirl (which she did and it sounds like it was 25 years ago).
Big Max Webster and most of his solo stuff fan here. Kim was not a good DJ IMHO. He never seemed comfortable and it always seemed like he was acting the part at Q107.Anyone hear why Kim Mitchell was let go --- way back .
One of the ladies who commented on twitter lumped Kim in with the rest of them
His true character became revealed if you listen to him talk. Basically a dick.Big Max Webster and most of his solo stuff fan here. Kim was not a good DJ IMHO. He never seemed comfortable and it always seemed like he was acting the part at Q107.
Whether Derringer is guilty or not, the damage is already done as the stories are emerging in social media and in today’s climate the legal liabilities and the exodus of sponsers who will not want to be associated with anything the name, “ Derringer” will force Corus to terminate the show. Corus is now about to face hefty legal costs and payouts.The John Derringer Show on Q107 is suspended pending the results of a third party investigation into the claims