Media

910 AM Dumps Rev. Rideout's Show After He Accuses Media Men of Sexual Harassment

December 12, 2017, 1:34 PM by  Allan Lengel

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Rev. W.J. Rideout III: "I have been kicked out of better places."

Update, 3:10 p.m. Tuesday: Rev. W.J. Rideout says he's not fazed by his suspension from 910 AM Superstation, Nicquel Terry of The Detroit News reports.

"This is his (the owner's) business; he can do what he wants to do," the Detroit pastor comments. "I have been kicked out of better places, but I’m not mad at Kevin Adell."

Original article, Tuesday afternoon:

Rev. W.J. Rideout III, pastor of Our God's People Church in Detroit, has lost his Saturday radio show on 910 AM Superstation because he accused journalists  at WXYZ of sexual harassment without properly vetting the allegations, the station's owner Kevin Adell tells Deadline Detroit.

"No women, no victims came forward and lawyers didn't come forward," Adell said Tuesday hours after he abruptly suspended Rideout's show indefinitely. 

"Rev. Rideout has no credibility, no journalistic standards. I didn't want him to use our platform for his own agenda." 

Rideout could not be immediately reached for comment. 

On Tuesday morning, Denise Johnson, the station manager circulated a memo:

Per Kevin Adell; Reverend Rideout’s show which airs on Saturdays at 7p has been suspended indefinitely.  In addition, Reverend Rideout is not permitted  to be interviewed on 910AM Superstation by phone, or in person in the studio. Please confirm that you have received the email and understand the requirement.

Last week, Rev. Rideout held a press conference and accused WXYZ of covering up complaints of sexual harassment against multiple employees. He provided specific allegations from one employee about anchor Malcom Maddox, who was subsequently placed on leave pending an internal investigation.

Rideout also mentioned two other journalists, one from WXYZ and another from the Detroit Free Press,  but provided no specific allegations. They both remain on the job. 

 Adell said WXYZ is a very respectable news organization and feels confident it will do the right thing.

He said the final straw came Tuesday morning when he learned that the pastor was organizing a demonstration that day at the WXYZ studio, which is next to 910  AM Superstation.

"WXYZ is already doing an investigation," Adell said. "I don't know what the protest was for."

Rideout said the victims of sexual harassment at WXYZ do not want to be revealed, and he told The Detroit News on Monday that he expected them to be at the protest, but stopped short of saying if they were present Tuesday.



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