Minnesota Public Radio Owes Its Public an Accounting
By Marc Ash, Reader Supported News
30 November 17
As it stands now, the career and legacy of one of America's most beloved
authors and storytellers have been destroyed by innuendo.
The statement on MPR's website says, in part:
"Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is terminating its contracts with Garrison
Keillor and his private media companies after recently learning of
allegations of his inappropriate behavior with an individual who worked with
him."
"Allegations" being the key word. Substantiation being conspicuously absent.
That amounts to innuendo. Or effectively, "Trust us, we really checked this
out." They then go on to make the case that their investigation was
objective and thorough. Let's hope so, the man's life lies in tatters.
Since MPR chooses not to present the facts on which they relied in making
their decision, we are left with Garrison Keillor's version of events from
his email to the Minnesota Star Tribune:
"I'm doing fine. Getting fired is a real distinction in broadcasting and
I've waited fifty years for the honor. All of my heroes got fired. I only
wish it could've been for something more heroic. I put my hand on a woman's
bare back. I meant to pat her back after she told me about her unhappiness
and her shirt was open and my hand went up it about six inches. She
recoiled. I apologized. I sent her an email of apology later and she replied
that she had forgiven me and not to think about it. We were friends. We
continued to be friendly right up until her lawyer called. Anyone who ever
was around my show can tell you that I was the least physically affection
person in the building. Actors hug, musicians hug, people were embracing
every Saturday night left and right, and I stood off in the corner like a
stone statue. If I had a dollar for every woman who asked to take a selfie
with me and who slipped an arm around me and let it drift down below the
beltline, I'd have at least a hundred dollars. So this is poetic irony of a
high order. But I'm just fine. I had a good long run and am grateful for it
and for everything else."
Later in a Facebook post, he seemed to reveal a deeper sense of disillusion:
(photo: Facebook)
If Keillor's account is true the alleged conduct amounts to a fairly minor
infraction. Such contact, if not accompanied by further complicating factors
such as a pattern of behavior, multiple complaints, career manipulation,
physical or psychological intimidation, would seem not to rise to the level
of workplace misconduct.
Indeed MPR appears to want more to go on, saying, "We encourage anyone with
additional information to call our confidential hotline 1-877-767-7781."
Garrison Keillor is one of the most beloved and respected storytellers of
our time. A statesman for reason in a time of unreason. His work has touched
the lives of millions in a decent and meaningful way. None of that excuses
sexual harassment in the workplace or anywhere else.
MPR, however, does owe it to their public, to their supporters, and to the
nation to be more forthcoming and make clear their reasons for publicly
shaming and dismissing this man whose career and work have meant so much to
literally millions.
Masha Gessen at The New Yorker sounded a quiet alarm recently, asking the
question, When Does a Watershed Become a Sex Panic? It's a difficult
question to answer definitively, but a warning sign could be when brilliant
lives are destroyed in dark places.
Marc Ash is the founder and former Executive Director of Truthout, and is
now founder and Editor of Reader Supported News.
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission
to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader
Supported News.
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