Minnesota listeners threaten to withdraw support
Radio personality’s firing prompts a backlash
MINNEAPOLIS Outraged Garrison Keillor fans deluged Minnesota Public Radio Thursday with complaints about the firing of the humorist over alleged workplace misconduct.
Some say they will no longer support MPR, one of the largest U.S. public radio operations, which depends heavily on financial contributions.
MPR said Wednesday it was cutting ties with Keillor, creator and former host of the popular public radio show A Prairie Home Companion, over an allegation of workplace misconduct.
It did not give details, but Keillor told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he had put his hand on a woman’s bare back while trying to console her.
On Thursday, MPR repeated it had received just one formal complaint against Keillor, a day after a statement by him raised questions about the extent of the allegations.
Keillor told MPR’s news department in an email two employees had made allegations. MPR spokeswoman Angie Andresen, asked to clear up the discrepancy, said the network has “a formal complaint from an individual that includes multiple allegations related to Garrison’s behaviour.”
Keillor said one person had brought a claim against MPR and one person had brought a claim against him.
He says he hasn’t seen the allegations and his account to the Star Tribune was the only incident he could remember.
Andresen appeared to dispute any claim against MPR in an email, saying: “We have complaints from two individuals formerly associated with A Prairie Home Companion. Both allege inappropriate behaviour by Mr. Keillor. Only one claims the behaviour was directed at her.”
She did not respond to a request for clarification.
MPR News reported many people were angered at Keillor’s dismissal and dozens planned to cancel memberships.
More than 400 people expressed themselves through MPR’s Public Insight Network within 24 hours of the news.
Discussions on the MPR News Facebook page generated more than 25,000 words.
“We understand that some listeners are upset and know that the limited information we’ve made available at this time may not seem to justify such a consequential decision,” said Andresen.
The professional fallout for the radio personality continued.
The Washington Post said it won’t distribute any more columns by Keillor because he didn’t reveal in his most recent column that he himself was under investigation.
Keillor’s column criticized calls for Minnesota U.S. Sen. Al Franken to resign over allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Associated Press