Toronto radio host John Derringer has been positioned 'on hiatus' after former colleague Jennifer Valentyne posted a prolonged video on social media over the weekend alleging harassment and gender discrimination inside the office.
In the practically thirteen-minute-long video, Valentyne doesn’t title particular corporations or people, however particulars occasions through which she says she was the sufferer of verbal abuse, gender discrimination and office harassment, together with having her bodily well being jeopardized. She additionally claims to have beforehand filed a criticism with the Canadian Human Rights Fee.
“What would you do if a co-worker screamed at you, belittled you, referred to as you names, shut you out, introduced you to tears, after which laughed when he advised you to cry all you need? That he didn’t really feel one bit sorry for you, and allow you to know with utter conviction that should you went to HR, they'd select him?” Valentyne begins the video by saying.
“Would you are taking a dream job working as a radio host should you knew you'd be working with a co-host with accusations of prior abusive behaviour in direction of ladies and that you'd even be uncovered to 2, typically three males vaping in an enclosed room for 4 hours a day with no air flow? Would you complain about it?” she continues.
In a press release despatched to CTV Information Toronto, Corus Leisure, the corporate that owns Q107, confirmed they've obtained complaints from Valentyne.
“Just a few years in the past, Ms. Valentyne shared sure considerations and we took motion to overview at the moment. There's additionally a course of underway with the Canadian Human Rights Fee. We now have had mediated conversations together with her, been aware of proceedings, and we're ready willpower of subsequent steps,” the assertion mentioned.
Additionally they mentioned they'd be launching an exterior investigation into the alleged incidents and Derringer within the Morning could be placed on hiatus pending the outcomes of the investigation.
“Over the previous two days we now have obtained new details about office considerations. We now have referred these to our ethics and conduct crew,” the corporate mentioned.
CTV Information Toronto reached out to Derringer for remark however didn't obtain a response.
In Valentyne’s video, she says she was inspired to stay silent in regards to the alleged abuse and that she did so, till her bodily well being was put in danger.
“Like so many ladies, I've put up and shut up,” she mentioned. “However there was one factor I simply couldn’t put up with: an organization that was prepared to place my bodily well being in jeopardy.”
She mentioned she was compelled to breathe vape smoke in shut quarters for hundreds of hours, misplaced her voice two instances and was finally prescribed an inhaler and steroids.
Valentyne mentioned she offered her considerations to higher administration, however that in the end, nothing was carried out. She mentioned she believes her choice to complain led to her being fired.
SUPPORT FROM FORMER COLLEAGUES
Former colleagues and coworkers have expressed help for Valentyne since she made the allegations.
Supriya Dwivedi, former host of International Information' The Morning Present 640 AM from 2016 to 2020, advised CTV Information Toronto Tuesday she witnessed Valentyne visibly upset over incidents involving Derringer on a number of events.
"It at all times feels good to see a good friend and a former colleague rise up for themselves," Dwivedi mentioned when reached over the telephone. "I do know that Jen wasn't alone, and I hope she will get what she supposed out of this, some type of closure or precise justice."
She additionally mentioned she was conscious that workers have been vaping within the studio Valentyne labored in.
On Twitter, Dwivedi mentioned "any claims from administration or different senior media [people] that they'd no thought this was happening are BS."
“All of us knew what Jenn was coping with in that studio,” she wrote.
Additionally on Twitter, former John Derringer co-host Maureen Holloway wrote, "That is courageous and true. I again Jennifer up 100%.”
The Derringer within the Morning touchdown web page on q107.com was offline as of Monday.
Valentyne advised CTV Information Toronto she shouldn't be launching any authorized motion towards Corus Leisure.
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