KRXQ/Sacramento Yank Morning Hosts for Boston Bit

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, April 18, 2013

Active Rock KRXQ-FM (98 Rock)/Sacramento has suspended morning hosts Rob, Arnie and Dawn, who are also syndicated, for the rest of the week after airing bit to compose a "Top Five List of Reasons to Hate Boston." After hearing about it, CBS Radio's crosstown Sports KHTK-AM morning host Don Geronimo, tore into the trio for the bit on Thursday, airing audio from their show which also joked about a man whose legs were blown off.

Following the suspension, Rob, Arnie and Dawn's website posted a statement criticizing KRXQ and labeling Geronimo as a "Sacramento radio host who would love to call himself a 'competitor,' but who instead is just another bottom-feeder looking and hoping for ways to better himself by disparaging and defaming us, our show and others in the local media market."

"Outrageously, he came out claiming that we in some way intended or were being insensitive or callous to the victims of the Boston tragedy. We refuse to stoop to this individual's despicable level, but instead want our listeners to know and understand that we did not, would not, and under no circumstances have intended in any way to have been insensitive, callous, dismissive, disparaging or otherwise to or of the victims of the Boston tragedy," they continued.

The statement added, "We understand a radio station's desire and instinct to protect itself for economic and political purposes, but this is absurd. Our Sacramento (KRXQ) carrier has elected a knee-jerk reaction to a fabricated and manufactured smear campaign by a local thug who is more than happy and willing to politicize and sensationalize the Boston tragedy for his own short-term gain. To this, we at the Rob, Arnie and Dawn Show say, you're a sad, pathetic character, shame on you, and shame on 98 Rock."

Entercom VP/Market Manager Sean Shannon said, "This Monday in Boston was a tragedy. There is nothing funny about it. We disagree with how Rob, Arnie snd Dawn treated those events and thus took their syndicated show off the air. We prefer the focus to be on our friends, colleagues and the city of Boston in this difficult time."