Former Q107 host John Derringer appeared at a human rights tribunal hearing on Wednesday, where he accused his former co-host Jennifer Valentyne of lacking preparation, being overly focused on appearances, and having a limited understanding of radio compared to her TV background. These claims were made in response to Valentyne’s allegations of verbal abuse and gender discrimination during her time on Corus Entertainment’s “Derringer in the Morning” from 2017 to 2019.
Derringer denied Valentyne’s accusations of physical contact and watching pornography in the studio, stating that such incidents never occurred. He further asserted that Valentyne showed little interest in the show, failed to promote it on her substantial social media platforms, and generally did not meet his expectations for effort in the workplace.
The hearing at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal followed the suspension of the popular radio show in May 2022 by Corus Entertainment, pending an external review of ethics and conduct. Prior to this, Valentyne had shared a video online detailing her grievances with her former employer and colleagues, which gained significant attention. Subsequently, in August 2022, Derringer and Q107 mutually agreed to part ways.
Among Valentyne’s complaints was the allegation that vaping in the studio while on-air affected her voice and led to a chronic smoker’s cough. Derringer admitted to allowing vaping initially but later acknowledged it was inappropriate conduct. He categorically denied watching pornography at work but confirmed that they occasionally visited websites with suggestive content while researching on-air topics.
Derringer highlighted the competitive pressures faced by Q107 around Valentyne’s hiring in 2017. He mentioned concerns over declining ratings, particularly against rival station Boom 97.3, and the station’s male-oriented listenership. The decision to add a female co-host was seen as a strategy to attract more female listeners amid the station’s struggles.
During his testimony, Derringer acknowledged being demanding of on-air personalities and attributed departures to performance issues. He emphasized his commitment to producing high-quality radio and stated that holding people accountable was crucial for maintaining standards.
The hearing is scheduled to resume on Thursday.