John DeBella has been on radio in Philadelphia for over 35 years. This past Friday, his former co-host Jennifer Neill filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him, alleging years of sexual harassment. She claims the harassment began when she was a traffic reporter in 2002 and continued when she became his sidekick in 2010. Thirty examples are given in the lawsuit.
PhillyVoice.com details some of the disturbing allegations against the WMGK-FM morning host. And Neill claims station management did nothing to stop DeBella. PhillyVoice.com reports that the lawsuit states a human resources director observed DeBella pressing his genitals against Neill. The woman allegedly threw up her hands and said, “I don’t see anything” before walking away. And, a PD allegedly saw DeBella showing Neill a picture of a man performing oral sex on a woman. The PD replied “Oh, jeez” and walked out of the office, according to the lawsuit.
According to the story, Neill filed complaints with both the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Sept. 19, 2016. The lawsuit alleges that after filing the complaints, station management told Neill she could continue working with DeBella or take a leave of absence. She returned to work for one day before taking a leave of absence.
The suit claims the station launched a six-week-long investigation into the situation, and DeBella allegedly dismissed his conduct as “jokes” and “mutual.” Neill eventually was reassigned as a traffic reporter, which she described as a “substantial demotion,” according to the lawsuit. She returned to work on Nov. 8, 2016 but in December 2016 she gave notice that she was leaving WMGK.
Beasley Media, which owns WMGK-FM, and is also named in the lawsuit, issued the following statement: “Beasley prides itself on being an equal opportunity employer and takes such allegations very seriously. However, at this time, we are not offering specific comment on the matter.”
Roy Radio, this is why Radio is in the final days of self immolation, with smug, uninformed thinking like yours. For generations now Radio has failed to attract the best and brightest, largely because Radio does not offer much to do for smart people, but seeks to erase the brilliance of bright people and replace it with compliant fast-talkers who are willing to do what consultants tell them. The result has been “talent” without brains on the air everywhere across the dial. It can hardly surprise anyone that when you rely on such unenlightened goons for your professional life blood you get abusers and enablers.
Can one imagine if the Liar in Chief of our once-great country was hooked up to a polygraph machine? Do you think he would still be blaring out “fake news?” Yet he continues to get a free pass. Disgusting the lack of integrity, ethics, scruples, and morals in the “fake representatives” in D.C. Rather than “leaders” we get “lemmings” for Senators and Representatives.
Another opportunist looking for a payday. Beasley, get your checkbook ready.