Reports: WIP Fires Drive-Time Radio Host Josh Innes

Yesterday, a story broke about one of the two big drive-time sports talk radio shows in Philadelphia. The show’s white producers had fabricated a black caller, Dwayne from Swedesboro, who trawled in racist stereotypes of black people.

Today, the host of a big drive-time sports talk radio show in Philadelphia was fired. No, the other one. Several reports, first on Crossing Broad and later on Philly.com, say WIP afternoon drive-time host Josh Innes has been fired by management.

Innes had been a part of his own controversies. He was suspended in January for calling Eagles offensive lineman Jason Kelce, who is white, a “house negro” for the organization. (Innes apologized: “I’m the dumbest human being on the planet. I apologize for that, I truly do. I’m an idiot.”) At the time, Crossing Broad’s Kyle Scott said CBS Radio was gauging the reaction to the Innes’ comments.

But, yeah, the reason for the firing may be the obvious one: Ratings. Rush hour is an important segment in radio. It’s when many listeners are driving their cars — they aren’t (or shouldn’t be) distracted by phone apps. It’s where radio makes a large chunk of its money. While Innes was close or ahead in the ratings more than a year ago, Missanelli, the host of 97.5 The Fanatic’s drive-time show — the one involved in this week’s fabricated caller controversy — has been crushing Innes in the ratings.

Philadelphia magazine profiled Innes in September of last year. If you’re wondering, Innes wears cargo shorts.

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