The crisis at WNYC over workplace harassment deepened on Wednesday, as two longtime hosts, Leonard Lopate and Jonathan Schwartz, were placed on immediate leave, “pending an investigation into accusations of inappropriate conduct," according to a statement from Laura Walker, president and CEO of New York Public Radio.
Lopate has hosted the Leonard Lopate Show for 32 years. Jonathan Schwartz hosts The Jonathan Channel online, and has a music show on Sundays. The suspensions come on the heels of news that a former WNYC host, John Hockenberry, bullied and harassed colleagues over the course of almost a decade. Hockenberry has apologized.
WNYC management did not clarify what Lopate and Schwartz are accused of. Lopate was escorted from the building on Wednesday morning after meeting with Chief Content Officer Dean Cappello.
“I have done nothing wrong, and I am really sad that my reputation may be damaged, despite the fact that I have not done anything that I know of that could have led to this situation,” Lopate said in an interview with WNYC News.
Schwartz declined to comment.
WNYC News has spoken with several women who have made complaints about Schwartz and Lopate. On Tuesday, a new complaint was filed against Lopate.
On Tuesday, Walker gave an interview to Brian Lehrer, saying she takes responsibility for what happened at The Takeaway, and pledging a full review of policies.
In addition, WNYC is conducting mandatory, in-person trainings on harassment and discrimination and offering onsite counseling to all employees. Walker is also meeting with employees in small groups.
On Wednesday, former co-host Adaora Udoji broke the terms of her non-disclosure agreement with WNYC to write a blistering piece in The Guardian.
She wrote: “I brought this to the attention of CEO and president Laura Walker and her senior team on countless occasions, in person and through email. I was also increasingly concerned about the power differential between Hockenberry and our staff, and between him and me. John had referred to the show in interviews as the Howard Stern show of morning radio. Presumably he was Stern, a white man, and I was Robin Quivers, the woman of color sidekick.”
Also on Wednesday, former Takeaway producer Kristen Meinzer told The Takeaway that executives at WNYC knew about the hostile workplace environment. "I want those people in senior management who are still in the building to step down or to be fired. They should not be here anymore. And I won’t feel confident that this is a safe space for all the people I love to do the great work they’re doing unless some of those people are gone," she said.
Members of New York Public Radio’s board are also reacting, although most have declined to comment to WNYC News. One board member said guidance that was circulated by the chair this weekend advised them not to speak to the press, and if the subject came up in other conversations, to move the discussion in a different direction. Examples they provided for discussion topics were whether Roy Moore would win a Senate seat in Alabama and whether Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn) should resign. The guidance recommended not mentioning media figures like Charlie Rose.
Among the board members who did speak, one said he is still very proud to support WNYC and remains confident in the leadership. Another board member said the leadership must change in order to restore credibility.
Listeners, who are among New York Public Radio’s largest sources of support, have been commenting frequently on the website and social media.