Before former radio host David Mueller is alleged to have groped Taylor Swift, his radio station was looking for another person to join him and his partner Ryan Kliesch, on “Ryno and Jackson,” one of his former bosses testified Thursday in U.S. District Court.
But the pair seemed to be lobbying for someone weak, who would “keep the show ‘Ryno and Jackson and the little lady,'” said Hershel Coomer, former programming manager at KYGO, a country and western radio station.
Jeff Kandyba via AP
In this courtroom sketch, defendant David Mueller, a former radio DJ, left, sits with his attorney during a trial Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Denver. Taylor Swift testified Thursday that Mueller reached under her skirt and intentionally grabbed her backside during a meet-and-a-greet photo session before a 2013 concert in Denver.
Coomer said he presented them with a number of qualified candidates for the job from large radio markets, and they always chose the weakest.
When he flew in Tracy Dixon, a radio personality from San Francisco who is “amazing,” he said, they didn’t want her.
One day they came to his office, visibly excited, and said “We’ve got it. This lady who works at our Starbucks is so funny.”
“I said, that’s awesome, but I’m not going to hire a barista from Starbucks to do a morning show in the 18th biggest market in the country,” Coomer said.
Dixon now has a morning show on KYGO.
Coomer, who goes by his radio name “Eddie Haskell,” denied a story that Mueller told on the stand. In his testimony, Mueller said that on the night he allegedly grabbed Swift’s bottom during a meet-and-greet before the singer’s 2013 show at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Coomer told him that Swift had jumped into his arms and that he had held her by her rear end.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Eddie Haskell speaks to the media after he testified at Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse, during forth day of the Taylor Swift and David Mueller trial, on Aug. 10, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Eddie Haskell speaks to the media after he testified at Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse, during forth day of the Taylor Swift and David Mueller trial, on Aug. 10, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Eddie Haskell speaks to the media after he testified at Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse, during forth day of the Taylor Swift and David Mueller trial, on Aug. 10, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Eddie Haskell speaks to the media after he testified at Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse, during forth day of the Taylor Swift and David Mueller trial, on Aug. 10, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Brooke Jonson waits in line to get a courtroom seat to view the fourth day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped pop singer Taylor Swift in a case in federal court, at Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse, on Aug. 10, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Fans start to head into the courthouse after waiting in line to get courtroom seats to view the fourth day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped pop singer Taylor Swift in a case in federal court, at Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse, on Aug. 10, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Workers in a office building across from the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse put up a sign in support of pop singer Taylor Swift on Aug. 10, 2017 in Denver. to determine whether a Denver radio host groped the singer, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Denver. Former DJ David Mueller sued Swift after she said he touched her backside before a concert in Denver in 2013.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Douglas Baldridge, attorney for pop singer Taylor Swift, leads his team into the morning session of the the fourth day of a civil trial to determine whether a Denver radio host groped the singer in a case in federal court Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Denver. Former DJ David Mueller sued Swift after she said he touched her backside before a concert in Denver in 2013. He's seeking at least $3 million. Swift countersued for sexual assault and is seeking $1.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Tree Paine, right, publicist for pop singer Taylor Swift, leads the singer's bother, Austin, into the federal courthouse for the morning session of the the fourth day of a civil trial to determine whether a Denver radio host groped the singer in a case in federal court Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Denver. Former DJ David Mueller sued Swift after she said he touched her backside before a concert in Denver in 2013. He's seeking at least $3 million. Swift countersued for sexual assault and is seeking $1.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Tree Paine, publicist for pop singer Taylor Swift, arrives for the morning session of the the fourth day of a civil trial to determine whether a Denver radio host groped the singer in a case in federal court Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Denver. Former DJ David Mueller sued Swift after she said he touched her backside before a concert in Denver in 2013. He's seeking at least $3 million. Swift countersued for sexual assault and is seeking $1.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Austin Swift, front center, brother of of pop singer Taylor Swift, walks with his sister's publicist, Tree Paine, across a street to attend the morning session of the the fourth day of a civil trial to determine whether a Denver radio host groped the singer in a case in federal court Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Denver. Former DJ David Mueller sued Swift after she said he touched her backside before a concert in Denver in 2013. He's seeking at least $3 million. Swift countersued for sexual assault and is seeking $1. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Anthony Reyther of Denver waits with about 20 other members of the public to attend the morning session of the the fourth day of a civil trial to determine whether a Denver radio host groped pop singer Taylor Swift in a case in federal court Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Denver. Former DJ David Mueller sued Swift after she said he touched her backside before a concert in Denver in 2013. He's seeking at least $3 million. Swift countersued for sexual assault and is seeking $1.
Jeff Kandyba via AP
In this courtroom sketch, pop singer Taylor Swift speaks from the witness stand during a trial Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Denver. Swift testified Thursday that David Mueller, a former radio DJ, reached under her skirt and intentionally grabbed her backside during a meet-and-a-greet photo session before a 2013 concert in Denver.
Jeff Kandyba via AP
In this courtroom sketch, defendant David Mueller, a former radio DJ, left, sits with his attorney during a trial Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Denver. Taylor Swift testified Thursday that Mueller reached under her skirt and intentionally grabbed her backside during a meet-and-a-greet photo session before a 2013 concert in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A member of the media naps, during the third day of the Taylor Swift and David Mueller trial, outside Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 9, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
The public standing area is empty, during the third day of the Taylor Swift and David Mueller trial, outside Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 9, 2017 in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Members of the public enter the federal courthouse to sit in the courtroom for the third day of a civil trial to determine whether a Denver radio host groped pop singer Taylor Swift in a case in federal court Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
A court officer directs members of the public into the federal courthouse to view the afternoon session of the third day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped pop singer Taylor Swift in a case in federal court Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Taking a line from one of her songs, workers put up a sign in support of pop singer Taylor Swift in the window of an office building across the street from the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 9, 2017 in Denver. the federal courthouse Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Denver. It is the third day of the Taylor Swift and David Mueller trial.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Paparazzi tries to take photos of Taylor Swift on the 8th flood of the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse, during the third day of the Taylor Swift and David Mueller trial, on Aug. 9, 2017 in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Johnny Hultzapple, front, of Denver, waits in a public line to view the afternoon session of the third day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped pop singer Taylor Swift in a case in federal court Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift fans Johnny Hultzapple, 16, left and Laura Brandon, 17, stand outside the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse, during the third day of the Taylor Swift and David Mueller trial, on Aug. 9, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift fan Laura Brandon, 17, stand outside the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse, during the third day of the Taylor Swift and David Mueller trial, on Aug. 9, 2017 in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Hannah Gu, left, and Shantel Bartolme, both of Denver, emerge from the federal courthouse after attending the morning session of the third day of a civil trial to determine whether a Denver radio host groped pop singer Taylor Swift in a case in federal court Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Lawyers for pop singer Taylor Swift head into the federal courthouse for the third day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped the pop singer in a case in federal court Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Denver. Former DJ David Mueller, sued Swift after she said he touched her backside before a concert in Denver in 2013. He's seeking at least $3 million. Swift countersued for sexual assault and is seeking $1.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Surrounded by a phalanx of guards, Tree Paine, right, publicist for pop singer Taylor Swift, returns to a hotel after the second day of a civil trial to determine whether a Denver radio host groped the pop singer in a case in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Lauren Simpson, center, jokes with her husband, Ian, both of Provo, Ut., as they stand at the front of the line for public access to the courtroom for the third day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped pop singer Taylor Swift in a case in federal court Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Denver. Former DJ David Mueller sued Swift after she said he touched her backside before a concert in Denver in 2013. He's seeking at least $3 million. Swift countersued for sexual assault and is seeking $1.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Arthur Lewis, center, of Denver, talks to television reporter as Lewis waits in a public line to view the third day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped pop singer Taylor Swift in a case in federal court Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Denver. Former DJ David Mueller sued Swift after she said he touched her backside before a concert in Denver in 2013. He's seeking at least $3 million. Swift countersued for sexual assault and is seeking $1.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Tree Paine, publicist for pop singer Taylor Swift, heads back to a hotel after the second day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped pop singer in a case in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Dani Kuta, a 17-year-old from Denver, smiles as she heads back to wait in a public line to view the afternoon session of the third day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped pop singer Taylor Swift in a case in federal court Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Denver.
Jeff Kandyba via AP
In this sketch by courtroom artist Jeff Kandyba, pop singer Taylor Swift, left, and a defense attorney look on as former radio host David Mueller, background right, speaks during a civil trial in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. Swift alleges that Mueller touched her during a concert meet-and-greet in 2013. The case went to court after Mueller sued Swift, claiming her false accusation cost him his job. He is seeking at least $3 million in damages. Swift countersued, claiming sexual assault.
In this courtroom sketch, pop singer Taylor Swift, left, appears with her lawyer and mother in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. Swift alleges that radio host David Mueller touched her during a concert meet-and-greet in 2013. The case went to court after Mueller sued Swift, claiming her false accusation cost him his job. He is seeking at least $3 million in damages. Swift countersued, claiming sexual assault.
Jeff Kandyba via AP
In this courtroom sketch, pop singer Taylor Swift, front left, confers with her attorney as David Mueller, back left, and the judge look on during a civil trial in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. Mueller, a former radio disc jockey accused of groping Swift before a concert testified Tuesday that he may have touched the pop superstar's ribs with a closed hand as he tried to jump into a photo with her but insisted he did not touch her backside as she claims.
Jeff Kandyba, The Associated Press
In this sketch provided by courtroom artist Jeff Kandyba, former radio host David Mueller appears in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. Pop singer Taylor Swift alleges that Mueller touched her during a concert meet-and-greet in 2013. The case went to court after Mueller sued Swift, claiming her false accusation cost him his job. He is seeking at least $3 million in damages. Swift countersued, claiming sexual assault.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Courtroom artist Jeff Kandyba holds his drawing up for media outside the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver. It is the second day in the trail of Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Eddie Haskell speaks to the media after he testified at Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse, during forth day of the Taylor Swift and David Mueller trial, on Aug. 10, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Media takes images of drawing from courtroom artist Jeff Kandyba outside the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver. It is the second day in the trail of Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Fans line up to go inside the courtroom at Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver. It is the second day in the trail of Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A federal police officer takes a photo of a sign, where people wrote 'Free Tay!' with sticky notes, in an office window across the street from the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver. It is the second day in the trail of Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
Tree Paine, Taylor Swift's publicist second from the left, walks with associates from the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse after the second day of the Taylor Swift David Mueller trial on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift's lead attorney Douglas Baldridge, center, walks with associates from the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse after the second day of the Taylor Swift David Mueller trial on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
People wrote 'Free Tay!' with sticky notes in an office window across the street from the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver. Jury selection continues, during the second day, in the trail of Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A man takes a photo of the sign outside Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 7, 2017 in Denver. Jury selection began in the trial Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Federal police wait outside the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse as media stands under tents on Aug. 7, 2017 in Denver. Jury selection began in the trail Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift's publicist Tree Paine, center, walks into the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 7, 2017 in Denver. Jury selection began in the trial of Taylor Swift against Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Tree Paine, Taylor Swift's publicist center, walks into Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 7, 2017 in Denver. Jury selection began in the trail Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A sign directs people who want to attend the civil trial of Taylor Swift and David Mueller at the U.S. District Court in Denver on Aug. 7, 2017.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift performs to a sold out crowd June 2, 2013 during her Red Tour stop in Denver at Pepsi Center.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift performs to a sold out crowd June 2, 2013 during her Red Tour stop in Denver at Pepsi Center.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift performs to a sold out crowd June 2, 2013 during her Red Tour stop in Denver at Pepsi Center.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift plays the Pepsi Center in September.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift performs to a sold out crowd June 2, 2013 during her Red Tour stop in Denver at Pepsi Center.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift performs to a sold out crowd June 2, 2013 during her Red Tour stop in Denver at Pepsi Center.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift performs to a sold out crowd June 2, 2013 at Denver's Pepsi Center.
In fact, Coomer said, the first time he heard anything about the story, was when he read it in a federal lawsuit against Swift that Mueller filed in 2015, “when it went out to the rest of the world.”
“It’s an absolute lie and in fact it took him two years to make that story up,” he said.
The allegation haunted Coomer as he looked for a job after leaving KYGO. One man he knew at a station where he sought a job later told him that the allegation did come up in discussions of him when he wasn’t present, Coomer said.
Bob Call, KYGO’s manager, said that three things convinced him that Mueller had done what Swift accused him of: the picture showing him grinning, with his hand clearly positioned behind her rear end; the word of Frank Bell, who works with Swift and whom Call said he knows well; and the fact that Mueller changed his story.
During his interview with Mueller the day following the incident, Call said Mueller first told him repeatedly that he didn’t grope the singer the meet-and-greet. Then he said that if he had touched her it was accidental.
