PT Freakin' G
10-09-2007, 01:59 AM
http://omg.yahoo.com/radio-station-under-fire-over-britney-spears-death-pool/news/2909
A radio station in Detroit is under fire for promoting a contest encouraging listeners to predict the day Britney Spears is going to die.
According to The Detroit News, DJ Big Boy of WKQI-FM 95.5 in Detroit announced a "Britney Suicide Watch" contest earlier this week.
"If you can guess the exact day that Britney dies, whether it's from drugs or however she dies, if you're right, we'll give you a thousand bucks," the DJ reportedly told his audience.
The station's Web site featured a page titled "Britney Death Poll" and stated "Life has been rough recently for Britney Spears. Guess the date she'll commit suicide... if you're right you could win $1000!!!"
The station has since pulled the page (pictured below) from its site.
On Wednesday, The Detroit News said 95.5 (which is owned by Clear Channel Communications) aired a statement from the station's operations manager, Dom Theodore, apologizing for the "content" of Big Boy's show.
"In no way were we making light of death or suicide," the statement said.
Additionally, The Detroit News reported Theodore said the $1,000 prize would have been donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
However, according to Tammi Landry, the Michigan-area director for the AFSP, it would've been an unwelcomed gesture.
"We need money for research and education, but I'm not taking money from an organization trying to get better ratings with a suicide watch," Landry told The Detroit News. "I'll accept their apology and take their $1,000, if the contest is off."
Access Hollywood has reached out to 95.5 for comment and is awaiting a response.
A radio station in Detroit is under fire for promoting a contest encouraging listeners to predict the day Britney Spears is going to die.
According to The Detroit News, DJ Big Boy of WKQI-FM 95.5 in Detroit announced a "Britney Suicide Watch" contest earlier this week.
"If you can guess the exact day that Britney dies, whether it's from drugs or however she dies, if you're right, we'll give you a thousand bucks," the DJ reportedly told his audience.
The station's Web site featured a page titled "Britney Death Poll" and stated "Life has been rough recently for Britney Spears. Guess the date she'll commit suicide... if you're right you could win $1000!!!"
The station has since pulled the page (pictured below) from its site.
On Wednesday, The Detroit News said 95.5 (which is owned by Clear Channel Communications) aired a statement from the station's operations manager, Dom Theodore, apologizing for the "content" of Big Boy's show.
"In no way were we making light of death or suicide," the statement said.
Additionally, The Detroit News reported Theodore said the $1,000 prize would have been donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
However, according to Tammi Landry, the Michigan-area director for the AFSP, it would've been an unwelcomed gesture.
"We need money for research and education, but I'm not taking money from an organization trying to get better ratings with a suicide watch," Landry told The Detroit News. "I'll accept their apology and take their $1,000, if the contest is off."
Access Hollywood has reached out to 95.5 for comment and is awaiting a response.