(If only for a week-and-a-half.). Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. As for the content itself it included a caricaturized Japanese accent, with Bellio blurting out words like "Hiya!," and they added karate sound effects for extra poor taste. And we got a glimpse of her behavior -. Eventually all of us will have the same type of power to come to a station and say, 'Take these people off the air, because they're damaging the entire Latino community of Southern California.' We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The John and Ken Show is an American talk radio show, hosted by John Chester Kobylt and Kenneth Robertson Chiampou. Very good, crack ho' After a while everybody's exhausted. Kobylt shouted, "Hey, Westerfield, are you in there? What followed was a 5-minute skit that was more than just cringe-worthy -- seeing as how they did it as AAPI Heritage month was beginning, angry listeners demanded the station take action. She was, for practical purposes, broke. They were suspended for seven days "for making insensitive and inappropriate comments about the late Whitney Houston." Took this long? Bellio pretended to be Yuko Sakamoto, the wife of local sports radio personality Vic "The Brick" Jacobs. After Slaughtering 5 Neighbors Execution Style. Indeed, Kobylt and Chiampou have repeatedly made inflammatory and offensive comments when discussing poor children, gay men, Koreans and Korean Americans, Native Americans and Latinos. [14], In 2003, Kobylt and Chiampou were instrumental in the recall of California Governor Gray Davis. Being bullied by John and Ken did not scare me into silence. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Kobylt and Chiampou first worked together in 1988 for a radio station in Atlantic City, New Jersey. "Bryan came to us and said he wanted to move back home to Seattle where his family lives," so announced KFIs program director Robin Bertolucci in a staff email Friday morning. A temporary suspension is not enough. There's a lot more over there, including audio clips. Here's what they said: But we're not necessarily buying KFI's statement (as printed by Talkers) saying the station does not condone, support or tolerate statements of this kind.. ; Gascon REFUSES to prosecute many crimes altogether, including trespassing, theft, making criminal threats, drug possession, disturbing the Listen to John and Ken Weekdays from 1 PM - 4 PM on KFI AM 640!Full Bio. 04/30/23 12:50 PM EDT, Video & Audio Kobylt demanded that Rubin apologize on his program for making this allegation without any basis in fact, and later Kobylt's wife called in to berate Rubin for making the statements. Radio John Ziegler fires at 'John & Ken' By Kevin Roderick | January 10, 2008 8:25 PM John Ziegler didn't just go away at KFI. John and Ken encouraged listeners to call up Mario-Cabrera and tell him how they felt about the DREAM Act prompting hundreds of hateful voicemails and violent threats. I'll note this: the readers of LARadio.com voted John & Ken the top Outstanding Personalities of the year. And at some point you're just sick of it all. It was available in different colors and sizes for about $30. Making fun of dead people, especially vulnerable song angels like Houston, does not win advertisers.). This kind of anti-immigrant activism is typical for Kobylt and Chiampou. So she's cracked out for 20 years, and we heard about, you know, how obnoxious she was at these parties, and she's doing handstands, and she's babbling like an idiot and running around, and, you know -. Both Dreier and Baca won reelection. What kind of radio station is KFI 640 kHz? The Saturday show was cancelled in September 2009 due to an expansion in their weekday time slot from the cancellation of Dr. Laura Schlessinger's program. Doesn't Want AI Stealing His Voice, Jokes!!! KFI stands behind JOHN AND KEN and their right to Updated every Friday at 7pm. Oh, look at that, she's doing handstands next to the pool. It is up you to act on it and, should you so choose, spread the word." But as of August 12, 2015, Los Angeles media reports say KFI turned off its HD signal. What are some examples of how providers can receive incentives? But to do it when they are nearly on top of the ratings? The hosts regularly had recall petition gatherers on the air and almost immediately threw their support to Arnold Schwarzenegger when he announced he would run for governor. By my count, no major changes have been made since 2013, the year Rush Limbaugh moved over to then-new KEIB (1150 AM), also in early January. Choice quotes demonstrate why Mr. Kobylt and Mr. Chiampous remarks regarding the singers behavior prior to her death on February 11 were bound to prompt quick reactions: John Kobylt issued an apology, saying he and his partner made a mistake, and we accept the stations decision. Mr. Kobylt admitted the language was inappropriate and apologized to KFI listeners as well as Ms. Houstons family. Update: The National Hispanic Media Coalition has been trying forever to make something like this happen, in response to John and Ken's racist comments against Latinos. Below are steps you can take in order to whitelist Observer.com on your browser: Click the AdBlock button on your browser and select Don't run on pages on this domain. John entered the radio business as a sportswriter after dropping out of Seton Hall University. When Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said to a group of illegal alien supporters "We clean your toilets", the duo urged their listeners to send toilet brushes to the mayor's office, of which thousands were received. Did you kill Danielle?". Despite these campaigns, Clear Channel, which owns KFI, as well as their market manager Greg Ashlock wrote letters in September defending the hosts' actions to Alex Nogales, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC). Due to low ratings and mutual dissatisfaction between the station and the hosts, KABC dropped the show on October 20, 2000. Other features include The John & Ken Health and Science Desk, covering medical news; Execution Desk, covering news on the death penalty; and Naked Desk, with news stories involving people who are nude. KFI is licensed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to broadcast in the HD (hybrid) format. [2] This caused a stir in media circles and in the African-American community as racially insensitive reference to the recently dead singer. KOBYLT: Oh, yeah. Meza's post also called for the permanent removal of John and Ken from the radio, as well as an investigation into their hate speech.. It was the largest rally ever held in New Jersey. Video & Audio Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 04/28/23 12:08 PM EDT, Article They're not fun to be around. Hes been a wasted talent on the station for years; his new show gives him the chance to shine and bring a whole new crop of listeners to talk radio. KOBYLT: Yeah, all right. They devised a "competition" that they dubbed Political Human Sacrifice, in which five Republican Representatives from California were grilled regarding their stance on illegal immigration. You know, you can't talk to a drug addict, you can't make plans. Stationed only a few blocks away at a coffee shop with my lap top and cell phone, I was responsible for media outreach. Last September, Clear Channel wrote a letter to Nogales defending the hosts' airing the personal cell phone number of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) activist Jorge-Mario Cabrera -- an action which resulted in Cabrera receiving hundreds of threatening calls. Rubin later apologized and retracted the statements on the KTLA 5 Morning News, as well as on The John & Ken Show.[18]. 04/28/23 1:36 PM EDT, Article The hosts denied responsibility, stating repeatedly that Cabrera's phone number was part of a press release, and therefore public information. I am just saying that's the natural reaction, people get worn out by this stuff. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. CLEAR CHANNEL Talk KFI-A/LOS ANGELES is standing firm against activists angry about afternoon hosts JOHN KOBYLT and KEN CHIAMPOU's opposition to illegal immigration, canceling a meeting with the NATIONAL HISPANIC MEDIA COALITION's ALEX NOGALES because NOGALES would not budge from his position that JOHN AND KEN be fired or he would push a boycott of the station. Identified as the media spokesperson on the press release, my cell phone number was listed and widely circulated for media purposes. I am not afraid of taking action, if anything, their personal attack mobilized my entire network of supporters and friends. ', Sorry, y'all! We used language that was inappropriate and we sincerely apologize to our listeners and to the family of Ms. Houston.. John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou, inflammatory KFI radio hosts with a reported audience of over 1 million, have finally gotten themselves suspended, reports The Question: wheres he going in Seattle? [6] The pair left WKXW in late 1992 to move to KFI to do their afternoon drive time spot, replacing former Los Angeles Police Department chief Daryl Gates. Ron DeSantis divides right-wing media, Fox News' Sean Hannity calls for the arrest of Secretary of State Antony Blinken over Hunter Bidens laptop, Newsmax guest: Sean Hannity may have had a hand in Tucker Carlson's departure from Fox News, With Tucker Carlson out, other Fox extremists now have the spotlight. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers. We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. Bill Handel loses an hour and will be heard from 6-9 a.m. Gary and Shannon keep the same length but move up an hour, taking on 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Next is John and Ken 1-4 p.m., followed by Tim Conway 4-7 p.m; both also sans one hour each shift. [6] Kobylt and Chiampou both attended the rally and spoke passionately about Hands Across New Jersey, better government, and lower taxes and they encouraged people to stand up and fight back for a better New Jersey. (And KFI management gets to look like the good guy, to boot! The pair, as part of the prank, called WAYV live on the air to solicit a donation, which led to a hang up. He went away mad. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Kobylt and Chiampou also designated a Democratic Congressman, Joe Baca, to be "sacrificed" in the general election. In the meantime, we're on the sidelines applauding the African-American community for the political power that they have.. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window). [27], Kobylt's wife, Deborah Zara, is a journalist and podcast host, and former TV news correspondent. Bellio and Conway have also apologized with each admitting their suspensions were warranted. The hosts apologized on October 8, after the election.[15]. You know, I am sure there is always royalty money coming in, but -, KOBYLT: So, how much of a pain in the ass do you think she was? SpouseParentChildSiblingFamily memberOther, Sweet James has my permission to help provide a free police report, At some point you're just sick of it all, and so is everybody else in the industry. In addition, the hosts themselves were more comfortable with dealing with state and local issues.[8]. Listen back to all your favorite Moistline Callers. Burbank Kobylt and Chiampou publicly referred to them as "Siegfried and Roy", and constantly berated the show for its low quality and lower ratings compared with their own show. KFI has always been run as a top-40 station that plays talk instead of music. But its also been a while since any real changes have been made. The EP, especially, seemed embarrassed and said, "My words tonight will never convey the shame that Im feeling because of my actions and I just -- I really want to apologize." * John Kobylt made one of the most racist statements ever made by a person in his position and, in the opinion of John Ziegler, is a racist. * John Ziegler is hardly perfect and not talented enough to be a success doing KFI's brand of deceptive talk. What happened to John and Ken on KFI? Ziegler has After years of pissing off every shade of leftist and minority, what was the last straw for KFI and its parent company, Clear Channel? [7] When other callers noted that blocking traffic was illegal, the movement turned into a rally in front of the State House in Trenton. The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), an organization engaged in a campaign to inform companies that advertise during John & Ken of the inflammatory language used by the duo, applauded KFI's move. From our makeshift office, I sent out press releases with updates and took calls from reporters. It looks like a PR stunt to garner John and Ken even more notoriety than they already have. 04/17/23 10:29 AM EDT, Article In the Huffington Post, Meza noted that Kobylt and Chaimpou's comment comes [as] no surprise to regular listeners of the program and that the hosts put nothing but hate speech on the radio waves. From the Huffington Post: I have personally felt the hate and unprofessionalism that comes with their so-called reporting. 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. Some of the shows remain the same: Wake Up Call with Jennifer Jones Lee still starts the day at 5 a.m.; Coast to Coast with George Noory still ends the day at 10 p.m. Heres whats changed. [13], The duo was named one of the 100 most influential people in Southern California by the Los Angeles Times in 2006. Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? As it continues to evolve away from issues and politics and toward general entertainment ironically the format that KABC ran when KFI did it I can see it helping to keep talk radio viable. 04/28/23 6:16 PM EDT, Article On February 15, KFI Los Angeles radio hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chaimpou of the John & Ken Show were suspended after Kobylt referred to the late 04/28/23 8:35 PM EDT, Video & Audio We made a mistake and we accept the station's decision. KOBYLT: Well, I have a real life question here, though. And then you find out she's dead. And this isn't the first time they've given out the personal information and cell phone number of an immigration advocate on the air -- or the first time their actions have resulted in death threats and harassment. * There is a lot that John & Ken don't want you to know about how they do their show and determine what they are going to say They themselves have shown a track record of unprofessionalism. There has to be information Bertolucci has that I can only guess at. It's like, 'Really? The comments about Dreier resulted in a complaint to the Federal Elections Commission being filed by the National Republican Congressional Committee, which was rejected by the FEC on March 17, 2006. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. WebEffective immediately, KFI AM 640 hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou have been suspended for making insensitive and inappropriate comments about the late Whitney So why didnt KFI promote the heck out of these changes? In February 2012, John and Ken were suspended for making disparaging comments in reference to Whitney Houston. KOBYLT: Whitney Houston has been cracked out for 20 years right? Ken Chiampou, a native of Brentwood, New York, was a certified public accountant[3] and had graduated from the University at Buffalo, working in corporate audits for a Big Eight firm. The 5 p.m. hour is the most listened to hour of the show and is sometimes themed. Fox Business' Don Imus -- who was fired from his CBS radio show in 2007 for referring to the Rutgers University women's basketball team as nappy-headed hos -- called Kobylt and Chiampou two unfunny losers. Watch: Video & Audio This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. [9], From January until December 2013, John and Ken hosted on KFI sister station, WOR in New York City, from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. How long do we have to wait before these hate mongers go too far? "Because KFI refuses to fire JOHN AND KEN, as demanded by these few individuals, they have called for a boycott of their show and the station. On March 19, 1999, The John and Ken Show was taken off the air at KFI, allegedly by a vice president in Atlanta over the syndication issue, although the spat was referred to as a "contract dispute". * John Kobylt is the main reason that John Ziegler is no longer at KFI * Bill Handel is a fair-weathered friend who hates John & Ken but who committed one of the most massive acts of hypocrisy imaginable after strangely going out of his way to defend John Kobylt Today, KFI broadcasts from its Burbank, California studios on 640 kHz on a 50,000- watt non-directional AM transmitter which is located in nearby La Mirada at 33 52 47 N, 118 00 47 W. As a class A signal, KFIs daytime signal can be heard throughout Southern California, with city-grade coverage as far as San Diego and Santa Barbara. See below. Ironically, she'd just been named employee of the month! Conway seems an odd fit at his new time, but again: New audience, new potential. Listeners tune-in to KFI-AM 640 for updates on whats happening around Los Angeles and across the nation. KFI, 640 kHz, was an affiliate of the NBC Red Network and KECA, 1430 kHz, carried programming from the Blue Network. "A handful of individuals who claim to speak for the SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Latino community have exaggerated or misrepresented what was said on the air in a transparent effort to advance their own political agenda and their own personal ambitions. The study looked at instances of hate speech from 2008 and found that the John & Ken Show repeatedly targeted immigrants, Latinos and Mexicans. But Alex Nogales, NHMC president and CEO, said that the temporary suspension is not enough and called on KFI to fire Kobylt and Chiampou because of their long history of inflammatory rhetoric: The National Hispanic Media Coalition, NHMC, applauds KFI managers for finally taking action against hate mongers John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of KFI's afternoon drive-time program, The John and Ken Show. For two decades John and Ken have spewed hate in the Los Angeles community while KFI has profited from their vitriol. KFI AM's Tim Conway Jr. and his executive producer, Sheron Bellio, have been suspended without pay this week for the stunt they pulled in early May. That afternoon, the John and Ken show publicly announced my cell phone number and email address on air, which had been intended for media purposes only, and launched a national campaign asking for my deportation. While speculating on Clive Davis's reaction to Houston's death, Kobylt imagined Davis calling her a 'crack ho' and making other derogatory comments on Houston's alleged drug use and mental state. What does it mean that the Bible was divinely inspired? Ah look at that, she's doin' handstands next to the pool. The spokesperson received several hundred phone calls from irate listeners, some of which expressed threats towards the spokesperson. With the hiring of Bill Carroll. KFI, KOST-HD2 103.5 FM, Los Angeles, CA | Free Internet Radio | TuneIn. Suits last show in LA will be Friday, Jan. 15. Bellio also laid it on thick, saying "brought to you by Subaru" a few different times. NHMC's Take John and Ken Off The Air Campaign has resulted in more than 20 companies -- including AT&T, Verizon, and General Motors -- to stop advertising during the program. He then joined the British military and eventually immigrated to the U.S., where he married a Polish-American woman, Helen. Were not going to validate the political agenda of a few and we reject their efforts to intimidate us, or to interfere with our relationship with our listeners.". Sure, a guest may want to talk about something political, and Ill let them. John Kobylt, 46, is the one who easily gets riled up over issues and events. The current controversy came after the hosts gave out a pro-CALIFORNIA Dream Act activist's cell phone number out on the air (the number appeared on a press release), and the activist received what he called offensive calls from listeners (NET NEWS 9/30). On March 4, 2006, Kobylt and Chiampou won the Radio & Records News/Talk Local Personality of the Year award, sharing the honor with KGO radio host Ronn Owens. K-Mozart (1260 AM, 105.1 HD2) will present what station owner Saul Levine calls the greatest Ninth Symphonies the Schubert, the Mahler, and the Beethoven on Jan. 22nd from noon to 3:30 p.m. One lucky, FAMILY AFFAIR: INSIDE SNOOP DOGG AND HIS BOSS LADY, By continuing to use our site, you agree to our, Man Arrested After Possible Kidnapping Caught On Video, Christopher Mitchell: Torrance Officers Charged In 2018 Shooting, The Bivalent Booster Is Now The Standard COVID Vaccine, Heading To The Desert? Davis, who was derisively called Gumby on the show for his shifting positions on issues, was criticized on a daily basis for the state's budget deficit, signing a bill that would give drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants, increasing the state's car licensing fee, offering large concessions to state employee labor unions, and for his alleged role in creating the California electricity crisis. And as I visited the K-Mozart website Mozart.com I was reminded of Levines dedication to shelter animals on the top of the page, as on all of his station websites, is a link for information on pet adoptions. JOHN KOBYLT (co-host): I've got to go, there's a bunch of people waiting for me downstairs. The hosts urged listeners to leave messages about Cabrera's advocacy of the California DREAM Act, telling them to congratulate Cabrera on his victory, which they described as the theft of tax money for illegal aliens. In a September 8, 2011, Huffington Post column, Cabrera described some of the very angry, and at times threatening calls he received. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Copyright 2023 All Access Music Group. KFI AM 640 announced the suspension of John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou, hosts of the John and Ken Show, on Thursday after the comments were made Or Fox News, for that matter. Chiampou is unmarried, with no children.[2]. Recurring features of the show include Chiampou's Friday movie review, where he grades one movie released that week on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being highest;[25] the "Moist Line", which plays edited listener comments on a voice mail line; and Hack in a Dumpster which is a homage to 2014 Ukraine revolution in metaphorically disposing of a public figure which the hosts disagree with. But between the two some shows were shortened and times adjusted in order to launch the all-new Later with Mo Kelly.. KFI was part of the Orange group, along with KGO, Oakland; KGW, Portland, KOMO, Seattle, and KHQ, Spokane. Fueled by this story, on March 11, 2008, and approved with a required second vote on March 18, 2008, Long Beach City Council members voted 70 to enact 18 ordinances heavily restricting the residency and recreational activity of all registered sex offenders.[23]. Deborah was birn in New Jersey and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, John Kobylt, a successful radio talk show host, her three sons, and a menagerie of animals. Bellio WebOn March 19, 1999, The John and Ken Show was taken off the air at KFI, allegedly by a vice president in Atlanta over the syndication issue, although the spat was referred to as a Its the station experience rather than any one host that has always gotten top billing. He says this probably means he'll never work in this town again, or in talk radio, but feels "there are certain truths that are worth the risk to tell." By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. But its not going to be a political show. Kobylt has indicated that his role is "to identify who the bad guy is and what the bad act is so that people feel it viscerally pointing out how they were screwed in some way. I would understand if everybody, or most people who knew her, who really had to deal with her, were like, God, who wants to deal with a drug addict? However, it is common for an entire show to pass without a call being taken from a listener. I have yet to reach KFI programmer Robin Bertolucci, but I can guess a major reason for the changes was making sure the station didnt get stale, along with trying to make sure that its audience didnt get too old. [17], On May 2, 2005, KTLA entertainment reporter Sam Rubin made comments alleging that Kobylt employed an illegal immigrant. On the show THURSDAY, KOBYLT and CHIAMPOU recounted the situation, voiced appreciation for ASHLOCK and PD ROBIN BERTOLUCCI's support, and wondered whether NOGALES has any actual followers. Gender Reassignment for Kids is Wrong From White Hot Scandal to White House Shindig!!! 8 What kind of radio station is KFI 640 kHz? One of the protesters was an Iraq War veteran. Fun times! To read our full stories, please turn off your ad blocker.We'd really appreciate it. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! At which point John and Ken will return to a larger audience than ever, waiting with bated breath for them to drop the next bomb. Yes! On October 6, 2003, as part of the fallout from Schwarzenegger's scandals, the hosts read information from the Los Angeles Superior Court, purporting that one of the key accusers against Schwarzenegger had a long criminal record. * Ken Chiampou is presumed to be a homosexual by nearly everyone at KFI and why that should matter to KFI listeners. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. has called them promoters of hate speech. Phil Hendrie off KFI, LA Times gets a top editor with nothing but questions, LA Observed Notes: Harvey Weinstein stripped bare, LA Observed Notes: Photos of the homeless, photos that found homes, 5 things: Double politics, fake quake news, bike lane rage, KPCC ends 'Off-Ramp' and gives host John Rabe new role, LA Times editor gets all serious: 'How could truth become so devalued? ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Download the TMZ App on the Apple App Store, Download the TMZ App on the Google Play Store. It does not store any personal data. The Houston suspension doesn't look like remorse. The disk jockeys also began selling t-shirts online as part of their campaign. 7 Where can I hear KFI radio in California? CHIAMPOU: -- and he stood there, he comforted them, and then he eventually left the suite, and said see you later. In particular, the study found that the show disproportionately targeted Latino, Mexican and immigrant groups. But advertising revenue helps support our journalism. Kobylt and Chiampou also campaigned feverishly for the abolition of tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike claiming that cutting government excess expenditures could itself fund highway maintenance.

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