Minnesota Public Radio has fired classical music host Garrett McQueen. McQueen announced he was fired on his Facebook page. He was changing out music in the MPR format, without approval, that he believed was more diverse.
McQueen told MPR News, “When things happened in the news or when there were hours of programming that only represented dead white men, I would take it upon myself to change that. That always got lots of really positive feedback, but it’s not exactly what protocol calls for.”
In a statement a day after McQueen’s announcement, MPR president Duchesne Drew and APM president Dave Kansas said the company’s decision was “not sudden and came after several conversations with Garrett.”
“The warnings presented to Garrett were not tied to his choice of music or the reasons for his unauthorized changes to playlists,” they wrote in the statement Friday. “The manner in which he made changes is what caused an issue. We have a process in place for changing playlists, and that process exists to maintain our more than 200 partner stations’ compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and to ensure royalties are properly paid for the music played.”
If someone turns into a station in hopes of hearing what what was advertised and he changes what they are hearing because he wants too, what difference does his color make? He should be fired for being rude and not doing his job. And he should have to pay for all of the hours staff had to take complaint calls because they did not hear what was promised.
If a person gets fired for failing to follow protocol or the expressed requirements and expectations of the job, that’s fair. To report it as “…fires its only black host” is not.
Spinning the story in that light is the only thing that made us look. This matter is the opposite of injustice.
There are some good radio stations in Africa that badly need such a talent. He should pack his bags and emigrate immediately.
Wild guess here…Robert and Demetrius are white males.
Louise,
Disclaimer: I am an old white male who is not bothered by your opinion of white males, but you didn’t state your viewpoint on Garrett McQueen’s firing. What is your viewpoint?
He deserved to get fired, since he is not the Program or Music Director and did not have authorization to do what he did.
And, his “dead white men” comment shows he was just engaged in a ‘BLM’ stunt that has no place in his particular job. As with other types of entertainment, we seek enjoyment and relief from the everyday pressures of life, and do NOT want racial politics shoved in our face at every turn.
Now, I suppose he’ll go out and riot…
Wow, he was bold. I hire you to do a job, do that job. I understand we all have different beliefs and this world is on a emotional roller coaster, but that still do not give you the right to disrupt the business that is putting food on your table.