Canadian Radio Host Jian Ghomeshi Fired After Sexual Abuse Allegations by Jilted Ex
Canada's CBC on Sunday fired popular radio show host Jian Ghomeshi after allegations of sexual abuse by a former lover. The radio host defended their "rough sex" role-playing as consensual on his…
Canada’s CBC on Sunday fired popular radio show host Jian Ghomeshi after allegations of sexual abuse by a former lover.
Details of Ghomeshi’s sexual relations with his ex-girlfriend were not clear, but the radio host on his Facebook page defended their “rough sex” role-playing as consensual.
“I have always been interested in a variety of activities in the bedroom, but I only participate in sexual practices that are mutually agreed upon, consensual, and exciting for both partners,” Ghomeshi, whose CBC show Q airs on over 180 NPR/PRI stations, stated. (Read his full post at the end of this story.)
Thanks for all the well wishes, you guys. I’m ok. Just taking some much needed personal time.
— jian ghomeshi (@jianghomeshi) October 24, 2014
He said his relationship with an unnamed “woman in her late 20s” began two years ago, and over time included “role-play, dominance and submission” between the sheets.
Ghomeshi added the duo “talked about using safe words and regularly checked in with each other about our comfort levels.”
The radio host conceded some may not find his “tastes in the bedroom” acceptable.
“They may be strange, enticing, weird, normal, or outright offensive to others. We all have our secret life. But that is my private life. That is my personal life,” Ghomeshi said, defending himself.
In early 2014, he added he ended his relations with his former lover when “it became clear to me that our on-and-off dating was unlikely to grow into a larger relationship.”
The ex didn’t take it well. The ensuing blowback included a “campaign of harassment, vengeance and demonization,” the radio personality recalled.
Ghomeshi said his smartphone is being “rifled through” so the names of former girlfriends could be contacted.
“Increasingly, female friends and ex-girlfriends of mine told me about these attempts to smear me,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
Ghomeshi said the CBC had known for months about the “campaign of vengeance” against him, and had cut ties to the radio host for “the risk of the perception that may come from a story that could come out.”
For its part, the Canadian network has made few public comments about Ghomeshi’s dismissal.
“The CBC is saddened to announce its relationship with Jian Ghomeshi has come to an end,” the pubcaster said in a surprise statement.
CBC spokesman Chuck Thompson also told The Hollywood Reporter earlier in the day Sunday that “information came to our attention recently that in CBC’s judgment precludes us from continuing our relationship with Jian.”
The legal terms for ending Ghomeshi’s contract with the CBC were not disclosed.
There was no comment Sunday from Ghomeshi’s publicist, who referred all questions to Ghomeshi’s lawyers at Dentons Canada LLP.
“Our client takes this matter very seriously and legal proceedings will be commenced tomorrow in relation to the CBC’s conduct which lead to Jian’s termination,” Dentons spokeswoman Tiffany Soucy told THR.
The law firm said Ghomeshi will claim in a $50 million suit “general and punitive damages for among other things, breach of confidence and bad faith.”
Ghomeshi on Friday on his Twitter account responded to earlier media reports that he was taking an indefinite leave from the pubcaster.
Ghomeshi recently announced on his Facebook page the death of his father.
“My dear friends, forgive me if I am lost. My heart has been broken,” he wrote at the time.
This article originally appeared in THR.com.
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