R&B singer Tyrese decided to go on an on-air crusade to rid Delaware schools of the unsightly image of liquor stores in their view this past Monday.
Here’s the skinny, while Tyrese was in route to Kiss 101.7 (one of Delaware’s premiere hip-hop stations) he spotted a liquor store directly across from an elementary school. Apparently this prompted him to express his disdain on-air by;
“Get them cats out of here…selling alcohol right across from your kids school, homie…put the pressure on them homie…you know how to put pressure on dudes selling in your hood.”
Consequently the station, who felt he could have voiced his opinion differently, took a short commercial break then asked Tyrese to exit upon their return.
Before the program director released a statement, Tyrese took to Twitter to release some steam. Here is a brief excerpt;
“I just got kicked out of a radio station from a PD who had a problem w/me speaking on liquor stores that are by elementary schools in Delaware. In 17 years I hv never been kicked out of a radio station.. Because I have a problem w/liquor stores being across from elementary schools?”
According to TMZ, Tony Quartarone, the program director, claimed he was not upset with Tyrese because he took a stand against liquor stores, it was in fact the way Tyrese addressed his listeners that Quartarone found disturbing.
“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.'”
Downgrade? Homies?? Did we mention that the station is ranked the no. 1 R&B and Hip Hop station in Delaware?! Because Tyrese continued to bring more light to the story, Quartarone decided he would ban Tyrese altogether from his station.
If the program director can become so upset to ban an artist songs from playing on air, I wonder what he’s doing about the liquor stores that he also agrees should not be located near schools. Oh wait…nothing! smh…
