New York’s longest running hip-hop radio show, The Underground Railroad, is coming to an end, after host Jay Smooth resigned in protest over WBAI's hiring of former WNYC host Leonard Lopate. Jay Smooth announced his decision to leave on Twitter Thursday, calling the decision “incredibly painful." He said he could not continue to support a station that would hire someone accused of sexual harassment.
In an unorthodox move, WBAI responded to Smooth on Twitter with a sarcastic remark about how little sponsorship Smooth has been able to bring in over the years.
And I'll just let this speak for itself. https://t.co/ehVyetbyu6
— jay smooth (@jsmooth995) July 19, 2018
Smooth said their response exemplifies how his values diverge from the non-commercial station's management.
“I protest your hiring an alleged harasser and your response is to make snarky comments about how much money I do or do not raise for you?” Smooth told WNYC. “It shouldn’t matter about how much money I make. It should matter that you’re hiring someone who may be toxic to the women in your workplace.”
WBAI did not immediately respond for comment. In a press release to announce Lopate's hiring last week, WBAI general manager Berthold Reimers said the station was "thrilled" to welcome Lopate into the fold.
Smooth said he is not immediately thinking about taking The Underground Railroad to another station.
“I’ve been blessed to have a good long run in media, and this industry is full of men who have had good long careers in media while women’s voices have been suppressed by men’s behavior and voices in the workplace, ” said Smooth.
Lopate was suspended, and then fired, from WNYC in December for what the station described as inappropriate conduct. WNYC News reported that employees had raised concerns about Lopate for years.