TV-News6, Orlando, Fla.
The popular “Monsters of the Morning” radio talk show on Orlando’s 104.1 faces a lawsuit for allegedly airing comments that a veteran Orlando police officer is a lesbian and has AIDS, according to a Local 6 News report.
The “Monsters” radio team, featuring Russ Rollins and Dirty Jim, returned to “Real Radio” Monday after being off the air for a week reportedly for sensitivity training.
Clear Channel Radio silenced the team after complaints about racial comments made on the air, Local 6 News reported.
However, a veteran Orlando police officer is suing the team saying the show nearly ruined her life, according to Local 6 News.
The alleged incident started with a committee charged with choosing a wrecker company that would receive a major contract with the city of Orlando.
Orlando Sgt. Rhonda Huckelbery served on the committee and admitted that one of the reasons why the committee did not go with one particular company was because the workers had sexually suggestive posters on the wall.
One of the posters was of “Monsters” personality Savannah, according to the report. Huckelbery said that was all it took to make her the target of relentless verbal attacks.
Huckelbery said she was never a listener to the “Monsters” show until her friends and family called her at home in October and told her to listen.
For the next four hours, Huckelbery said she listened as the radio team made her the hot topic on their show.
She said they made false statements about her sexual preferences.
“They constantly referred to me as a lesbian,” Huckelbery said. “I was embarrassed, I was mad, I was devastated.”
The radio team allegedly told the audience Huckelbery had AIDS and they repeatedly insulted her mother, according to the report.
“They called my mother various names, for me that’s when they really crossed the line,” she said.
The 16-year veteran of the Orlando police department said after the show somebody in a crowd at a crime scene noticed her and said she had AIDS.
Huckelbery said the words aired on the show nearly ruined her life, according to the report.
And, while she still waits for an apology, she said it may be too little, too late.
“Shock jocks should not make it harder for me to do my job and that’s exactly what they did,” Huckelbery said.
Attorney Mary Lytle is seeking more than $1 million on behalf of Huckelbery.
Huckelbery’s attorney said she sent several letters to Clear Channel asking for an apology but never received one. Now that they are being sued, the company said they cannot comment on the case.