Toronto radio presenter John Derringer was absent from his position on Q107’s ‘Derringer in the Morning’ on Tuesday after former schoolgirl Jennifer Valentyne posted a long video on social media over the weekend at · Alleging harassment and gender discrimination in the workplace.
In the nearly thirteen-minute video, Valentyne does not name specific companies or individuals, but details events in which she claims to have been the victim of verbal abuse, gender discrimination and harassment, as well as endangering her health. physics. He also claims to have previously filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
“What would you do if a co-worker called you, scolded you, told you names, shut you up, made you cry, and then laughed when he told you to cry whatever you wanted? That he felt no pity for you and that he would have let you know with complete conviction that if he went to HR, they would choose him? Valentyne begins the video by saying.
“Would you get a dream job working as a radio presenter if you knew you were working with a co-presenter with previous allegations of abusive behavior towards women and that you would also be exposed to two, sometimes three men vaping in a locked room for four hours? a day without ventilation? Would you complain about that? ” she continues.
In a statement sent to CTV News Toronto, Corus Entertainment, the company that owns Q107, confirmed that they have received complaints from Valentyne.
“A few years ago, Ms. Valentyne shared some concerns and we took steps to review them at that time. There is also a process underway with the Canadian Commission on Human Rights. We have had talks with her, we have been sensitive to the procedures. and we are awaiting the determination of the next steps, “the statement said.
They also said that they would initiate an external investigation into the alleged incidents and that Derringer in the Morning would pause pending the results of the investigation.
“Over the last two days we have received new information about work issues. We have referred them to our ethics and conduct team,” the company said.
In Valentyne’s video, she says she was encouraged to remain silent about the alleged abuse and did so until her physical health was at risk.
“Like so many women, I’ve held on and kept quiet,” she said. “But there was one thing I couldn’t stand: a company that was willing to endanger my physical health.”
She said she was forced to breathe steam smoke nearby for thousands of hours, lost her voice twice and was eventually prescribed an inhaler and steroids.
Valentyne said he presented his concerns to senior management, but in the end nothing was done. He said he believes his decision to complain led to his dismissal.
SUPPORT OF FORMER COLLEAGUES
Former co-workers have expressed support for Valentyne since she made the allegations.
Supriya Dwivedi, a former presenter of Global News’s The Morning Show 640 AM from 2016 to 2020, told CTV News Toronto on Tuesday that she witnessed that Valentyne was visibly upset by the incidents involving Derringer on several occasions.
“It always feels good to see a friend and a former colleague defend themselves,” Dwivedi said when contacted by phone. “I know Jen wasn’t alone, and I hope she gets what she wanted out of it, some kind of closure or real justice.”
He also said he was aware that employees were vaporizing in the studio where Valentyne worked.
On Twitter, Dwivedi said “any claims from management or other senior media [people] they had no idea what was going on are BS “.
“We all knew what Jenn was dealing with in that studio,” she wrote.
Also on Twitter, former John Derringer co-presenter Maureen Holloway wrote, “That’s brave and true. I support Jennifer 100 percent.”
This is brave and true. I support Jennifer 100 percent.
– Maureen Holloway (@maureenholloway) May 21, 2022
The landing page Derringer in the Morning at q107.com was offline on Monday.
Valentyne told CTV News Toronto that it will not take legal action against Corus Entertainment.