|
|
|
Another Disc Jock Shock in NYC Leads to Firing, Arrest -- 05/12/2006
Another Disc Jock Shock in NYC Leads to Firing, Arrest
By Jeff McKay
CNSNews.com Correspondent
May 12, 2006
(CNSNews.com) - In the latest of a series of controversies involving radio station shock jocks, the popular host of hip-hop station WWPR in New York City was fired and ordered to surrender to authorities Friday afternoon for making racially charged comments and threatening to sexually molest a four-year-old girl.
Although it may end up being the least of his problems, D.J. Star, whose real name is Troi Torian, might also be charged with violating Federal Communications Commission (FCC) policies.
On Wednesday, the New York Police Department's Hate Crime Task Force began looking into Torian's outburst, and the Manhattan district attorney's office opened an investigation into Torian's on-air statements.
On Friday afternoon, the New York City Police department contacted Torian and ordered him to surrender. He was arrested without incident and charged with aggravated harassment and endangering the welfare of a child. Torian was also ordered to surrender a 9mm handgun in his possession.
Over a five-day period on the radio, Torian allegedly called Gia Casey, the Asian-American wife of Rashawn Casey, also known as D.J. Envy on rival hip-hop radio station WQHT-FM, "a whore," and "a lo mein eater," among other slurs.
The 42-year-old Torian, who considers himself the "Black Howard Stern," also allegedly turned his verbal attack on the couple's four-year-old daughter, reportedly making threats of a sexual nature against the child and alluding to his desire to urinate on the child. "I would like to tinkle on her," Torian is said to have told his listeners.
"Oh yes, I will come for your kids" and "I would like to do an R. Kelly on your seed, on your little baby girl," Torian allegedly said, referring to the R&B; singer who allegedly videotaped a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl. A copy of that video was circulated across the Internet.
Torian's alleged comments included an offer of $500 to any listener who could provide information about the school attended by Envy's daughter. "Where does this kid go to school (referring to the four-year-old girl)? I got $500 for that information. Somebody e-mail me or give me a call. Just tell me where the kid goes to school."
"What's going to have to happen?" Gia Casey said at a news conference held at City Hall. "Do I have to go down to the morgue and identify my child's body before Clear Channel says, 'Maybe they've gone a little too far?'"
Casey stated that security at her daughter's school has been increased due to Torian's alleged threats.
Also attending the news conference were some of the city's leading politicians demanding more than just Torian's firing. "He needs to do jail time for this," said New York City Councilman Peter Vallone, who added that Torian's words amounted to "aggravated harassment."
Torian's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, released a statement claiming that his client's broadcast comments were a reaction to statements made by Envy and that Envy's wife had nothing to fear.
"The statements made by Star (Torian) in response, while inappropriate, were, however, made under great duress and at a time when he was fearful for his safety and the safety of members of his staff," Brafman said in a statement.
Clear Channel Radio, which owns WWPR in New York City, suspended Torian after local news media began reporting on his statements. Within a few hours of that suspension, Clear Channel fired him.
"Power 105 finds recent remarks broadcast by Troi Torain of the Star and Bucwild Morning Show to be wholly unacceptable. He is no longer with Power 105.1 or Clear Channel Radio. We sincerely apologize to those who may have been offended by his remarks," said Rob Williams, the radio station's market manager, in a statement announcing Torian's firing.
Premier Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel that broadcasts the Star and Buc Wild program in cities including Philadelphia and Miami, suspended the show indefinitely.
New York City Councilman John Liu, who filed a complaint against Torian and Clear Channel with the FCC, believes that the company that hired Torian must bear responsibility.
"The company (Clear Channel) has to be held responsible. They may have apologized, but that's not enough. (The comments) were sick and pathetic. We will demand further action from Clear Channel," said Liu in an appearance on cable channel New York One's Inside City Hall program.
When told of Torian's arrest, Liu told WABC-TV, "This is a real consequence for Torian and sends a real message to other would-be racist pedophile radio stooges that they are not immune from the law."
This is the latest in a series of high-profile and over-the-top incidents involving radio shock jocks on New York radio.
In 2001 when Torian was working for WQHT, he was suspended for two weeks after mocking the death of popular R&B; singer Aaliyah, who had died in a plane crash. When Torian returned to the airwaves, he became embroiled in yet another controversy, this one involving anti-Jewish statements.
Shortly after his firing from WQHT, Torian signed a multi-million dollar deal with the Clear Channel-owned WWPR.
Last year it was Torian's rival, D.J. Envy who was suspended without pay for two weeks after his WQHT morning program played a song parody laced with Asian slurs mocking the victims of the Tsunami that killed over 200,000 people.
The Emmis Broadcasting-owned WQHT is facing eviction after the owners of the building that houses the station's studios cited three shootings, two bomb threats and over a dozen incidents involving celebrities since March 2000.
The best-known incident of shock jocks crossing the line occurred in 2002 after a Virginia couple was arrested for having sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral as a part of a "Sex in Church" radio stunt on the "Opie and Anthony" show. The incident, which was being broadcast live, happened during a Mass on the Feast of the Assumption, a day of obligation for Catholics and within earshot of parishioners.
Although that incident led to the firing of Opie and Anthony in New York and the cancellation of their nationally syndicated show, the duo signed a multi-million dollar deal with Sirius Satellite Radio to carry their program. They were also recently hired by CBS-owned Free FM in New York City. They are also in talks to syndicate their show nationally again.
Last December, an Opie and Anthony fan sounded an air horn near an unsuspecting WABC-TV reporter Anthony Johnson during a live remote broadcast as a part of the pair's "Assault on the Media" contest. Police questioned the fan but did not file assault charges, and the radio duo put a stop to that contest.
Opie and Anthony came to New York after they were fired from their radio job in 1998 for playing an April Fool's Day prank in which they claimed that the mayor of Boston had been killed in a traffic accident.
According to the Star and Buc Wild website, Torian describes his show as "politically progressive and informative entertainment." When it comes to violence, Torian has urged listeners to "act responsibly, consistent with your age."
See Earlier Story:
Shock-Jock Sex Stunt at St. Patrick's Causes Outrage (Aug. 16, 2002)
Subscribe to the free CNSNews.com daily E-Brief.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
|