Tavis Smiley makes comeback bid after PBS firing pressdemocrat.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pressdemocrat.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Lynn Elber
Tavis Smiley, owner of progressive talk radio station KBLA Los Angeles (1580), poses for a portrait on a vintage AM radio in his station s offices, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. KBLA s morning drive host Dominique DiPrima gifted Smiley with the radio in celebration of the radio station s launch.(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) June 17, 2021 - 1:58 AM
LOS ANGELES (AP) â Three years after workplace misconduct allegations cost veteran TV and radio talk-show host Tavis Smiley his job and a national forum, heâs ending his silence.
Smiley, who continues to deny the claims of unwanted sexual behavior that led PBS to drop his long-running show, is attempting to rebound with the purchase of a Los Angeles radio station that will offer a Black and progressive perspective on the city and nation.
By LYNN ELBER
AP Television Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) â Three years after workplace misconduct allegations cost veteran TV and radio talk-show host Tavis Smiley his job and a national forum, heâs ending his silence.
Smiley, who continues to deny the claims of unwanted sexual behavior that led PBS to drop his long-running show, is attempting to rebound with the purchase of a Los Angeles radio station that will offer a Black and progressive perspective on the city and nation.
Sidelined during a period of landmark racial upheaval, Smiley decided to make his own opportunity with reformatted station KBLA 1580 Los Angeles. It debuts with a preview on Saturday, the Juneteenth holiday commemorating when the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free.
Tavis Smiley Says He Supports #MeToo As He Comes Back With New Show After Allegations
On 6/16/21 at 8:32 PM EDT
TV and radio host Tavis Smiley is returning this week with a new show on the Los Angeles station KBLA 1580 AM, his first show after allegations of misconduct three years ago.
Smiley s new show previews Saturday also known as Juneteenth on the station, co-owned by Smiley and intended to be a station for Black-on-Black talk radio, the first such station in Los Angeles.
The host was dropped by PBS in 2017 from his self-titled talk show after six women testified that he made lewd jokes and sexual advances towards them. Smiley denies the allegations.
Tavis Smiley makes comeback bid after PBS firing over misconduct usatoday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from usatoday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.