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Radio Silence For DJ Cipha After Haiti Comment
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 22, 2010
Modified Dec 22, 2010
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 22, 2010
Modified Dec 22, 2010
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Following his appalling on-air comment last week, DJ Cipha Sounds of Hot 97 has been suspended indefinitely. He told his listening audience on Friday, "The reason I'm HIV negative is because I don't mess with Haitian girls." This led to a coalition of Haitian community leaders raising their voices and rallying outside of the Hot 97 headquarters, and now the Daily News reports that the station has suspended him, despite defending him at first and saying he was just a young man who made a mistake.
Today, however, his bosses released a statement spelling out the consequences of their deejay's actions, saying, "First, the station announced that DJ Cipha Sounds has been suspended indefinitely. Second, Cipha will immediately undertake sensitivity training focused on the Haitian community and specifically, the challenges the Haitian community has faced in terms of the HIV epidemic. Finally, HOT 97 announced it will work with local community leaders to utilize the influence of HOT 97 to increase awareness of HIV and community programs to address the HIV epidemic."
This morning the fallen deejay broadcasted from Twitter, asking, "DAM, I HAVENT BEEN HOME AT THIS HOUR IN 7 YEARS... WHAT DO I DO??"
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DJ Cipha Sounds
haiti
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Luis Diaz
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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