Grand Rapids Radio: Eric Zane Explains Why He Was Fired

Grand Rapids radio personality Eric Zane returned to the airwaves Thursday morning during which he explained why he was fired.

Eric Zane, formerly of “The Free Beer & Hot Wings Show” on WGRD 97.9 FM, launched “The Eric Zane Show” Sports WBBL 107.3 FM.

Zane’s sudden firing in mid-February from “The Free Beer & Hot Wings Show” caught a lot of his fans off guard, accowing to WOOD-TV8.

During his first show on Thursday, he told listeners he was suspended after making comments about the DeltaPlex and its owner. About a week later he was fired.

Eric Zane on WBBL

Zane said he was offered three months severance pay to sign a contract to not talk about it and would have had to say he resigned or was retiring, but he refused the offer from his former employer. He said the Sunday after he got fired, he contemplated suicide.

Zane said he was under a 30-day non-compete after which he could start his new show without facing any legal issues.

“I’m sad about it, it shouldn’t have happened. It was too much in my opinion. It was a mistake on their part and ultimately I don’t think it’s good. They had to do what they had to do. I 100-percent disagree with it and I’m still sad about it, but I still have to earn a living,” Zane told 24 Hour News 8.

“The Free Beer & Hot Wings Show” tweeted Thursday morning saying Zane’s explanation of why he was fired was “hardly the full story” but they would take the “high road.”