Entercom Fires Seth Dunlap Over Allegations of Extortion

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, November 4, 2019

Seth Dunlap

Former talk-show host Seth Dunlap is out at WWL Radio/New Orleans. Entercom fired Dunlap as they believe Dunlap commandeered its Twitter account to launch a homophobic slur at himself before demanding nearly $2 million to settle complaints of workplace harassment. Dunlap denies the allegations.

Dunlap's attorney, Megan Kiefer, said the station and Entercom, had "tried to pressure him to resign" in recent weeks, but he refused while maintaining his innocence. Kiefer said, "The action of Entercom wrongfully terminating Mr. Dunlap has compounded his damages."

A New Orleans police investigation into the station's allegations of extortion by Dunlap remains open, one month after detectives obtained a warrant for information from the phone they suspect was used to send the tweet.

At the center of the controversy is a tweet that originated from WWL's Twitter account referring to the 35-year-old Dunlap as a "fag." Dunlap, who is openly gay, then wrote a lengthy post on his personal Facebook page recounting the challenges he'd faced working in sports media as a gay man. The offensive tweet quickly vanished - but not before drawing nationwide attention, with many offering support for Dunlap and condemning WWL Radio. Dunlap suddenly then went on an indefinite, voluntary paid leave of absence.

The station investigated and claims the tweet in question came from an IP address associated with Dunlap's phone. Station management then went to the NOPD and accused Dunlap of sending the tweet before demanding the station pay him $1.8 million to avoid a lawsuit he planned to file, alleging a hostile workplace environment. The station claimed both the tweet and the demand came at a time when Dunlap was facing significant financial problems.