Garrison Keillor Says Hes Been Fired Over Alleged Improper Behavior

[babylonsister]

Garrison Keillor Says He’s Been Fired Over Alleged Improper Behavior
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (JEFF BAENEN)
November 29, 2017, 12:22 PM EST Updated on November 29, 2017, 12:54 PM EST


Minneapolis (AP) -- Garrison Keillor, the former host of "A Prairie Home Companion," said Wednesday he has been fired by Minnesota Public Radio over allegations of improper behavior.

Keillor told The Associated Press of his firing in an email. In a follow-up statement, he said he was fired over "a story that I think is more interesting and more complicated than the version MPR heard." He didn't give details of the allegation.

"It's some sort of poetic irony to be knocked off the air by a story, having told so many of them myself, but I'm 75 and don't have any interest in arguing about this. And I cannot in conscience bring danger to a great organization I've worked hard for since 1969," Keillor said.

"A person could not hope for more than what I was given," he said.

Minnesota Public Radio confirmed Keillor had been fired, saying it received a single allegation of "inappropriate behavior" and doesn't know of any other similar allegations.

Keillor, 75, retired as host of his long-running public radio variety show in 2016. His hand-picked successor, mandolinist Chris Thile, is in his second season as "Prairie Home" host.

The firing Wednesday came shortly after Keillor, an avowed Democrat, wrote a syndicated column that ridiculed the idea that Sen. Al Franken should resign over allegations of sexual harassment.

more...

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-29/urgent-garrison-keillor-says-fired-over-alleged-improper-behavior

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. And now let this just die

[Cuthbert Allgood]

7. Why?

Keillor gets away from being part of the discussion because....?

[janterry]

2. the more complicated part

makes me think there's a lot there - to be suspicious of.

Of course, we don't know (because we don't know).

I hope this is changing the world for the better. I have a beautiful teenager (a daughter) and I want her to be empowered and safe in the world.

[Beartracks]

3. "received a single allegation of 'inappropriate behavior'"

Wow, that's all it takes, huh? A single perhaps unfounded allegation? Oh - unless you're a Republican candidate for public office, that is.

============

[uponit7771]

9. +1, and if the allegation is unfounded he should fight like hell

[njhoneybadger]

4. This shit is getting fucking weird

I smell a RAT.
I'm afraid to make eye contact with a woman now

[rusty fender]

6. Now you know what women feel like

Every day

[grantcart]

11. Fair Point

I became partner in a large management consulting company and took over the field training which meant that I would take trainees out in the field on their first 2-3 days.

I was called into work in the SW area to take over for a Regional Manager who was fired for sexual harassment charges. He admitted to two of them but said that 2 others were doing it for the payoff from the lawsuit and I believed him given the facts that I could confirm.

I was into day 3 of the training for a middle aged woman who I knew wasn't going to be able to handle the cold calling part of the job. On the third day she drove me way out of the area where we were working and went outside of the city and parked in front of a "topless" bar.

I handed the briefing material to her and said "this looks like a great prospect, you have enough experience that you can handle this one on your own, I will wait in the car". She blinked at me, drove back to the hotel and I left to the next city. It was obvious that she was trying to set me up and had I not been careful would have triggered a law suit and discipline action.

A lot of women have to be careful every minute of every day. Because of the actions of some bad guys some good guys face predatory actions by a few women who are trying to profit from it. The bad actions of predatory males don't hurt just the women but also men who have done nothing but find themselves in an impossible position to defend themselves.

I know a lot of people made fun of Pence's practice but I also never had a private conversation with a woman in my office with the door closed. If we needed to have the door closed I would invite a third person to join, usually a woman.

While some men have to practice "defensive practices" in the office some of the time, many women have to practice it every day.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

8. Yeah. This is all because men make eye contact with women.

You can't possibly be serious.

[mythology]

12. Quit being ridiculous

Grabbing a woman's ass isn't making eye contact. Masturbating in front of women who didn't consent isn't making eye contact.

Yes we need a larger societal discussion, but eye contact isn't what got anybody in trouble.

[Loki Liesmith]

5. Game theory again

No point in denying an allegation anymore because if you do you are “revictimizing victims”.

Don’t deny don’t affirm is the logical choice in this environment.

[spedtr90]

10. Some detail from MN paper

via Huffpost

He told the Star Tribune the issue was an incident where he put his hand on a woman’s bare back accidentally. “I meant to pat her back after she told me about her unhappiness and her shirt was open and my hand went up it about six inches. She recoiled. I apologized.”

“If I had a dollar for every woman who asked to take a selfie with me and who slipped an arm around me and let it drift down below the beltline, I’d have at least a hundred dollars. So this is poetic irony of a high order. But I’m just fine. I had a good long run and am grateful for it and for everything else,” he also told the outlet.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/garrison-keillor-fired_us_5a1ee935e4b017a311ebcad2?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009