Radio host abruptly went off air last week
CBC
CBC’s relationship with Jian Ghomeshi, host of the cultural affairs radio show Q, has ended, the network announced Sunday.
“The CBC is saddened to announce its relationship with Jian Ghomeshi has come to an end. This decision was not made without serious deliberation and careful consideration. Jian has made an immense contribution to the CBC and we wish him well,” the network said in a statement.
CBC ended its relationship with Ghomeshi earlier on Sunday, said spokesman Chuck Thompson.
Late Sunday afternoon, Ghomeshi posted a lengthy message on his Facebook page in which he claimed that he was terminated by the broadcaster because of the risk of his “private sex life being made public as a result of a campaign of false allegations pursued by a jilted ex girlfriend and a freelance writer.”
The Toronto Star published a story on the topic.
In the Facebook post, Ghomeshi details a relationship with a former girlfriend that apparently included “forms of BDSM,” saying that he ended the relationship at the beginning of this year.
“After this, in the early spring there began a campaign of harassment, vengeance and demonization against me that would lead to months of anxiety.”
Ghomeshi said he has “always been interested in a wide variety of activities in the bedroom” but only those that are “mutually agreed upon” and “consensual.”
Ghomeshi said he was open with CBC about the matter because he wanted his bosses to be aware of the situation, but has “never believed it was anyone’s business” what he does in his private affairs.
“CBC has been part of the team of friends and lawyers assembled to deal with this for months,” he wrote. “On Thursday I voluntarily showed evidence that everything I have done has been consensual. I did this in good faith and because I know, as I have always known, that I have nothing to hide. This when the CBC decided to fire me.”
Ghomeshi added that CBC executives told him “that this type of sexual behaviour was unbecoming of a prominent host on the CBC.”
He also writes in the post that the CBC received no formal complaints or allegations. …