Regulators had nothing to do with Chrissy Love show being cut off

Thu, Sep 29th 2016, 01:21 PM


Christina “Chrissy Love” Thompson

THE removal of popular radio talk show host Christina “Chrissy Love” Thompson from the airwaves during her “Reality Check” broadcast on Tuesday had nothing to do with any regulation violation, according to the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA).

The authority’s acting CEO, Stephen Bereaux, said yesterday URCA has not had any correspondence with the management team of Guardian Radio, the show’s host station, the producers or Ms. Thompson herself.

Mr. Bereaux said URCA has no investigation pending with respect to the show and was not involved in any way with the show being pulled.

Several audio and video clips have since surfaced on social media, recording the escalation and abrupt conclusion of Tuesday’s show. In the clips, Ms. Thompson could be heard addressing the cancellation, voicing her anger at the radio station’s officials.

Speaking to a guest featured on the show, Erin Ferguson, Ms. Thompson could be heard asking whether or not the show went to break without her being notified.

After concluding that the show had not gone to break, and had in fact been pulled, she remarked that she was being forced to “pull files in Washington”, where the show was being broadcast live in Washington, D.C., to observe the opening of the United States National Museum about African-American history.

“Because you know I try not to pull files and people always try to mess with me when they know that I can pull... files,” she told her guest.

In response, Mr. Ferguson said: “You know them people you bothering with watching.”

Ms. Thompson went on to criticise station officials back in New Providence for their decision to have the show taken off air and threatened to file a sexual harassment lawsuit in response.

According to sources, the show was pulled off air because of Mr. Ferguson’s appearance. Sources said the station’s management had previously advised Ms Thompson that Mr. Ferguson was “banned” from appearing on the station and had told her not to have him on the show again.

When contacted by The Tribune, Guardian Radio Station Manager Dwight Strachan said the matter was an internal one and refused to comment on the issue.

The station played a previously broadcast programme in the time slot reserved for the “Reality Check” talk show yesterday.

Although station officials would not comment, there is speculation that Ms. Thompson’s contract may be terminated as a result of the problem. Ms. Thompson could not be reached yesterday.

By Ricardo Wells, Tribune Staff Reporter

Click here to read more at The Tribune

 Sponsored Ads