Inappropriate behavior

Garrison Keillor fired over allegations of 'inappropriate behavior'

By CRISTIANO LIMA

Garrison Keillor, the creator and former host of "A Prairie Home Companion," was fired by Minnesota Public Radio over allegations of "inappropriate behavior" with a former colleague, the public radio network announced Wednesday.

The behavior occurred while Keillor was responsible for production of his signature radio show, one of MPR's most well-known programs, the NPR member station said in a statement issued Wednesday.

The statement said MPR president Jon McTaggart and the station's board were "immediately informed" of the situation after the allegations surfaced last month, at which time the news outlet hired an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation. MPR said "there are no similar allegations involving other staff" and Keillor.

"MPR takes these allegations seriously and we are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and supportive work environment for all employees and everyone associated with MPR. We want a workplace where anyone who experiences unwanted behavior feels comfortable in reporting concerns to MPR," Angie Andresen, director of communications for MPR, said in a statement.

Keillor told the Associated Press in an email he was fired over "a story that I think is more interesting and more complicated than the version MPR heard." He told The Star Tribune in a separate message his hand went up the back of a woman's shirt "about six inches" after he tried to "pat her back."

"She recoiled. I apologized. I sent her an email of apology later and she replied that she had forgiven me and not to think about it. We were friends. We continued to be friendly right up until her lawyer called," Keillor told the state's largest newspaper.

The influential broadcaster also cracked that "getting fired is a real distinction in broadcasting and I've waited fifty years for the honor."

Keillor, who created "A Praise Home Companion in 1974," hosted the show until last year, when he announced his retirement from the program. He remained with MPR in a production role for "The Writer's Almanac."

MPR announced it would end distribution of “The Writer’s Almanac,” which Keillor produced, and seize rebroadcasts of “The Best of A Prairie Home Companion hosted by Garrison Keillor,” a compilation series of the program’s greatest hits.

The firing is the latest example of a high profile public media figure to be ousted over allegations of workplace misconduct.

NPR senior vice president of news Chris Turpin announced Tuesday in a memo to staff that David Sweeney, NPR's chief news editor, "is no longer on staff." Earlier, NPR's editorial director, Michael Oreskes, was ousted after two women said he forcibly kissed them while he served as Washington bureau chief for The New York Times in the 1990s.

Charlie Rose, the legendary public broadcaster and PBS host, was fired by CBS News, PBS and Bloomberg TV last week after eight women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment stemming from his time at the "Charlie Rose" show.

Longtime "Today" show host Matt Lauer was fired from NBC earlier Wednesday over allegations of "inappropriate sexual behavior."

Keillor wrote an opinion piece published Tuesday in which he defended Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, a Democrat who has also been accused of misconduct. The piece was titled, "Al Franken should resign? That’s absurd."