MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Humorist Garrison Keillor says he is in negotiations with Minnesota Public Radio after the radio network cut ties with the former “A Prairie Home Companion” host over unspecified allegations of inappropriate behavior.
Keillor wrote on his Facebook page Friday that a second day of mediation was held at a law firm in Minneapolis, but gave no details. MPR spokeswoman Angie Andresen says the two sides are talking about the transition of their business relationship.
MPR announced in late November it was terminating contracts with Keillor after learning of allegations of “inappropriate behavior” with a person who worked with him. Keillor told the Star Tribune that he had put his hand on a woman’s bare back as he tried to console her.
Keillor retired as host of “Prairie Home” in 2016.
If your doctor tells you that you only have an hour to live, use it to listen to “A Prairie Home Companion.” You’ll feel like you have eternal life.
Was there some sort of mixed signal? Or is he not the ogar management alleges. Prairie Grope Companion?
I liked Keillor’s tales from Lake Woebegone, the rest of Prairie Home companion not so much, but I’d like to see him extract painful amounts of money from NPR. Then, between the allegation of sexual misconduct and the knee-jerk reaction to fire a guy, employers and their lawyers will consider the possibility of an expensive lawsuit where they just might have to prove the employee actually did something reprehensible, in a courtroom, where “just believe her” won’t pass the laugh test and a pat on the back is not a crime.
“…knee-jerk reaction to fire a guy…”
This is often called “zero tolerance”. In practice it means that any complaint, no matter how it strains credulity, is taken at face value without even a perfunctory or cursory hearing. Someone’s going to make law on this.
It happens often, not just with matters of sexual harassment.
MPR not NPR, his contract was with Minnesota public radio.
Keillor was not an employee.
The TPM headline is inaccurate, he was not fired. Keillor had already been retired for years, they had a contractual agreement to air episodes. MPR lost a lot of money by ending that contract, if it was a poor decision they only hurt themselves. MPR has said there’s more to the story, I’m not inclined to believe Keillor because he’s the one that has been misrepresentating facts. I’d wait for more information.