KNUS Has Canceled One Of Its Talk Shows After A Co-Host Wished For A ‘Nice School Shooting’




The local conservative radio station KNUS has canceled the Chuck and Julie Show after one of its hosts wished for a school shooting on the air Tuesday.
Chuck Bonniwell said news of a “nice school shooting” would break up nonstop coverage of President Donald Trump's impeachment. His wife and co-host Julie Hayden immediately told him not to say that.
Wednesday evening, KNUS announced it had canceled the show.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT:
— 710 KNUS Denver (@710KNUS) December 19, 2019
Given the history of school violence that has plagued our community, 710 KNUS confirms that an inappropriate comment was made on the Chuck & Julie show by co-host Chuck Bonniwell. A programming decision was made to end the program immediately.
Now there are hundreds of people on Twitter demanding the station fire Bonniwell.
You need to end your relationship with him immediately. That is totally unacceptable. As a Denver resident and parent this is the most disgraceful thing I have ever heard. ESPECIALLY in Colorado.
— tim myers (@denvercoder) December 19, 2019
Maybe also fire him while you’re at it?
— FÉMME (@snorlax__o) December 19, 2019
But did you terminate his employment?
— KathyA11 ðŸ¬-fied user (@KathyA11) December 19, 2019
KNUS has not said whether it plans to fire him. The station did not return multiple calls, emails and messages. Bonniwell also didn’t return requests for comment, but the show’s Twitter account posted a thread addressing the controversy.
As you know 710KNUS has cancelled our show. It's difficult to put everything into words here but we hope you hear our hearts. Chuck's comment about school shootings was inappropriate and if he could un-say it he would.
— Chuck and Julie (@ChuckandJulie1) December 19, 2019
In a now-deleted tweet, the account also tweeted that the comment was meant as a joke.
Bonniwell has a history of controversial takes, mostly through his newspaper, the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle.
Bonniwell and Hayden started hosting their weekday afternoon show in July 2017. Hayden, a former reporter, has covered multiple school shootings, including at Columbine in 1999.
KNUS has recently made headlines too. Last month the station fired another one of its hosts — Craig Silverman. Silverman said he was pulled off the air for criticizing President Donald Trump at the conservative station. Station leadership denied that, saying he was fired over a programming disagreement.
Colorado has had many school shootings over the years, including the Columbine High School shooting and the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting earlier this year.
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