Popular Donkey Show DJ off-air after $2.5 million lawsuit
EUGENE, Ore.--If you haven't heard it, the Donkey Show is kind of like Eugene's version of Howard Stern.
It's known for wacky stunts that often push the envelope of good taste--like in December, when radio employees handed out soap to protesters at Occupy Eugene.
But did one D.J. take the jokes too far?
The general manager at Bicoastal Media confirmed to Chad "Tanner" Haney has been fired from his position as co-host on the Donkey Show.
The firing comes after a $2.5 million dollar lawsuit claims he sexually harassed and discriminated against a former co-worker on the air.
KFLY 101.5 is known around Eugene for it's brass statements and tongue and cheek humor.
But a lawsuit filed Valentines Day is no publicity stunt.
Former KFLY traffic and "wrap up hour" co-host Michael Fleming says he's a victim of sexual harrassment and age discrimination.
For example, he says radio hosts called him "old" and "stupid" on air and forced three bikini-clad women to sit on his lap while they made fun of him.
He says in the court documents that Chad "Tanner" Haney, a co-host for the donkey show, publicly humiliated him based on his age and sex.
That may be no surprise to some listeners, who are accustomed to less-than-sensitive humor.
The lawsuit paints a much different picture of Fleming and Haney than the one captured by KVAL in 2009, showing the duo arm-in-arm trying to sell a virgin mary pretzel for big bucks on ebay.
Fleming claims the harassment inside the Bicoastal studios has gone on since March 2010.
He says the last straw was his decision to not participate in a super bowl bet, which required the loser to walk around the Valley River Mall in Spandex.
Fleming wouldn't do it, and claims Haney then belittled him on air and asked him in a mocking way to quote "Apologize to the men of this country".
Fleming turned in his two-weeks notice last week and walked out a day later saying he was "too scared to continue working there".
Bicoastal General Manager Larry Rodgers says Haney was fired Friday, but wouldn't say if the firing was directly related to the lawsuit.
KVAL tried to reach Haney, but he didn't return our messages.
