Canton Radio: Q92 Sez 'Mo' Was Fired For Diatribe

Bryan "Mo" Modzeleski

Canton/Alliance,OH-based WDJQ 92.5 FM Q92 says in a court filing that it fired a former radio personality because he publicly castigated the station during a 38-minute on-air diatribe while he neglected to play music, news or commercial segments, reports the cantonrep.com.

The radio show host known as Mo, whose real name is Bryan Modzelewski, was let go in February. (Click Here for orginal posting.)

Last month, he filed a lawsuit arguing that Q92 breached the employment agreement. The lawsuit says the dismissal was "based exclusively upon the defendant's single allegation of  'deceit, dishonesty or wrongful appropriation for personal use or benefit of company property or money.'"

Modzelewski's attorney, Steven Okey, had said that radio station management never gave his client a specific reason for his firing, either verbally or written.

But in a counterclaim filed recently, the radio station includes excerpts of a Feb. 2 radio broadcast in which Modzelewski was harshly critical of the station and voiced his displeasure with his job. For nearly three years, Modzelewski hosted "The Mo Radio Show." He started at Q92 doing evenings in 2008, moving to afternoon drive and then mornings.

The station says in court papers that Modzelewski accused Q92 of forcing him to abandon his principles, causing him to be miserable with his job as well as the state of his radio career.

Modzelewski made the comments while on the air with two other radio hosts. When asked why he stayed on the job, Modzelewski told them that he needed the paycheck, according to Q92's filing.

"Modzelewski opted to embark on his tirade against Q92 while completely disregarding his duty to play music, news and commercial segments scheduled by Q92's management for the on-air listeners -- a basic contractual obligation of Modzelewski's employment with Q92," the court filing contends.

RELATED POSTING: Q92’s Mo Apologizes In Person, Returns To Air..Click Here