Tyrese Kicked off Radio Station for Speaking Against Liquor Stores Near Schools
Singer Tyrese Gibson has reportedly been kicked out of a radio station in Delaware after he spoke out against the prevalence of liquor stores in the state's urban neighborhoods.
According to TMZ, the singer, who solely uses his first name, said the program director at KISS 101.7 that kicked him out of the Delaware radio station on Wednesday was cursing and yelling behind the scenes -- all because the singer took a stand against liquor stores near schools.
Tyrese, 32, said he was being interviewed about his latest album when he transitioned to discussing the issue of liquor stores that he noticed in close proximity to schools. According to the singer, the topic came up because having grown up with a liquor store near his school as a child, the issue really bothered him.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Tyrese claimed that, following his comment and during a station break,Tony Quartarone, the program director of the station, scolded the on-air personality for allowing the discussion to take place. Tyrese said he was soon told that he was off the air.
Afterward, Tyrese mentioned the incident on Twitter, saying: 'I just got kicked out of a radio station by a [program director] who had a problem w/ me speaking on liquor stores that are by elementary schools in Delaware."
TMZ spoke with Quartarone, who claimed that he was not upset with Tyrese because he took a stand against liquor stores. Instead, he claimed the problem was the way the singer addressed his listeners.
"Tyrese was not kicked off the air for pointing out that liquor stores should not be located near schools ... I totally agree with that. But ... he proceeded to downgrade my audience by calling them 'homies," Quartarone told the entertainment website.
Quartarone reportedly said he felt the language was condescending -- and that is why he asked Tyrese to leave the building Monday morning.
After Tyrese tweeted about the incident, Quartarone said he decided to ban the singer's music until he gets an apology.
The singer called into "TMZ Live" Wednesday and insisted that he simply did not care if the KISS 101.7 took his music out of rotation.
