Garrison Keillor Fired Over Alleged Misconduct
Today, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) terminated its contract with Garrison Keillor, the long-time host of the Writer's Almanac and A Prairie Home Companion, over allegations of "inappropriate behavior with an individual who worked with him." A press release issued today on MPR's site states:
Last month, MPR was notified of the allegations which relate to Mr. Keillor's conduct while he was responsible for the production of A Prairie Home Companion (APHC). MPR President Jon McTaggart immediately informed the MPR Board Chair, and a special Board committee was appointed to provide oversight and ongoing counsel. In addition, MPR retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation of the allegations. Based on what we currently know, there are no similar allegations involving other staff. The attorney leading the independent investigation has been conducting interviews and reviewing documents, and the investigation is still ongoing. We encourage anyone with additional information to call our confidential hotline 1-877-767-7781.
MPR takes these allegations seriously and we are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and supportive work environment for all employees and everyone associated with MPR. We want a workplace where anyone who experiences unwanted behavior feels comfortable in reporting concerns to MPR. Discrimination, harassment, retaliation or other inappropriate behaviors will not be tolerated.
The statement goes on to outline the steps MPR has taken to end their relationship with Keillor and his media companies:
MPR will end its business relationships with Mr. Keillor's media companies effective immediately. By terminating the contracts, MPR and American Public Media (APM) will:
* end distribution and broadcast of The Writer's Almanac and rebroadcasts of The Best of A Prairie Home Companion hosted by Garrison Keillor;
* change the name of APM's weekly music and variety program hosted by Chris Thile; and,
* separate from the Pretty Good Goods online catalog and the PrairieHome.org website.
The New York Times's Maya Salam reports today on an op-ed Keillor wrote yesterday for the Washington Post, which dismissed calls for Senator Al Franken to resign, along with Keillor's reaction to his own allegations:
In an op-ed for The Washington Post published on Tuesday evening, Mr. Keillor said calls for the senator’s resignation were “pure absurdity” and dismissed a photograph of Mr. Franken with his hands on a woman’s chest as something “in a spirit of low comedy.”
In his statement on Wednesday, Mr. Keillor said he was “deeply grateful” for the saga of Lake Wobegon and for all his years doing his radio programs and his tours, as well as the friendships of musicians and actors.”
“I’m 75,” he said, “and don’t have any interest in arguing about this.”
“I cannot in conscience bring danger to a great organization I’ve worked hard for since 1969,” he said.
He also apologized to “all the poets whose work I won’t be reading on the radio and sorry for the people who will lose work on account of this.”