Opie OUT At SiriusXM

Greg 'Opie' Hughes

Nearly three years to the day after “Opie and Anthony” host Anthony Cumia was abruptly let go from SiriusXM (for a series of racially-charged derogatory and inflammatory tweets), his former on-air partner, Gregg “Opie” Hughes, host of “Opie’s Radio Show” has also been fired by the satellite radio giant.

In a statement provided by SiriusXM, the company writes: “SiriusXM confirms it has terminated its relationship with Gregg ‘Opie’ Hughes, host of the ‘Opie Radio Show’ weekday afternoons on the Faction Talk channel. SiriusXM does not publicly discuss internal personnel issues.”

Variety reports the firing apparently comes as a result of “a video made of an employee using the bathroom.”

Opie’s contract was scheduled to be up in October, and the incident was discussed in detail on Hughes show last week before the show left for vacation, and involved Hughes filming his former booker in the bathroom as a prank. Hughes maintained that it was not a big deal and no different from other past pranks but others disagreed.

Throughout their twenty year history, the duo had survived multiple firings, in at least one case using a dismissal from a gig as a stepping stone to more publicity, larger audiences, and larger paychecks. They left Boston radio station WAAF in 1998 after pulling an April Fool’s Day prank announcing that the Mayor of Boston had died, and subsequently moved to New York, where at the height of their popularity, they were fired for over the infamous Sex for Sam contest when they discussed a couple having sex in St Patrick’s Cathedral. Throughout the twenty year career, Hughes and Cumia always stuck by each other, at least professionally, until Hughes opted to stay with the company after Cumia was let go.

Humbled by the love and support. Wish I can write everyone back. Won't be sitting out long. Although may take a few days to fish. Talk soon

— opie radio (@OpieRadio) July 7, 2017

After Cumia depaertred SiriusXM its was a rough run for Hughes. From July 2014 until October 2015, Opie co-hosted the short-lived Opie with Jim Norton show from July 3, 2014 until October 2015.  That show dissolved due to hostility between the hosts. Norton teamed up with former producer Sam Roberts and took over the morning time-slot, while Hughes moved to afternoons for his solo show. Then in January SiriusXM announced they were changing the name of the channel from Opie Radio to Faction Talk. In February, Opie joked that he might get fired after he made news by taunting radio host and long time rival Howard Stern, by sneaking into Stern’s off limits facilities at SiriusXM.

According to a report, the only surviving members of the Opie and Anthony Show who still has a show on SiriusXM are co-host Jim Norton who joined the show in 2001, who currently hosts the Faction Talk morning show with former O&A producer Sam Roberts.

Wednesday morning on the Jim and Sam Show, Jim Norton and Sam Roberts didn’t confirm outright, but seemed to support the idea that Opie is no longer with the company. Both Jim and Sam implied that they were asked not to make any announcements.