Minnesota Public Radio and its parent company American Public Media announced that they’ve fired former A Prairie Home Companion host Garrison Keillor and severed all ties with him and his businesses. Keillor has a long history at MPR, but it soon will be scrubbed from any future content. Their official statement says:
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 decision came after an investigation into a report of “inappropriate behavior.” Considering that powerful media men have been losing their jobs for sexual misconduct (like Matt Lauer earlier today), many people suspect that the investigation may have been about similar allegations.
Keillor recently published an op-ed in The Washington Post saying that Sen. Al Franken should not resign by dismissing the groping as “low comedy.” Considering the recent revelations, many people are viewing the piece in a whole new light.