WTKK Talker Jay Severin Suspended Again

Jay Severin, the right-wing talk show host on Boston's WTKK-FM radio station, has been suspended again.

Boston Globe photo

According to a story by Mark Shanahan at boston.com, the highly-paid drive-time host, who was pulled off the air in 2009 for calling Mexican immigrants "primitives," "leeches," and exporters of "women with mustaches and VD," has been suspended indefinitely, according to a station spokeswoman.

"Jay was suspended after we received serious complaints about the recent content of his show," said Heidi Raphael of Greater Media Inc.

"The matter is currently under review." Raphael wouldn't discuss what Severin said to upset listeners and perhaps advertisers, but we're told it may be related to a comment Severin made while discussing sexual harassment in the workplace. (He implied it is an employer's prerogative to have sex with an intern.)

Severin, who signed a seven-year contract in 2006, has not been on the air since Tuesday.

Attempts to contact Severin or his agent, George Tobia, were unsuccessful this morning. Severin, who's one of the highest-paid talk-show hosts in Boston making close to $1 million a year, has lagged in the ratings of late.

As a result, the station has begun introducing a series of cohosts. One of them, Michael Bower, was Severin's replacement on Wednesday, the first day of his suspension.

Nothing if not provocative, Severin has a long history of using strong language - he's called Hillary Clinton a "lying bitch" - and sometimes it gets him into trouble.

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