Dean Blundell | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation(s) | radio personality, podcaster |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | The Dean Blundell Show (CFNY-FM, 2001–2014), Dean Blundell & Co. (CJCL, 2015–2017) |
| Website | deanblundell |
Dean Blundell is a former Canadian radio personality. Best known as a longtime "shock jock" morning host onCFNY-FM (The Edge) inToronto,Ontario,[1] in 2015 he was named the new morning host on sports radio stationCJCL (Sportsnet 590 The Fan).[2] His show on Sportsnet was cancelled in February 2017.[3]
Blundell worked forCJOK-FM inFort McMurray[4] andCIMX-FM inWindsor, Ontario before joining CFNY in 2001.[5] His self-titled show on CFNY debuted soon afterCorus Entertainment reassigned his longtime predecessorsHumble and Fred to talk radio sister stationCFMJ.[6]
During Blundell's stint on CFNY, his program frequently faced complaints to theCanadian Broadcast Standards Council regarding offensive content.
These included complaints about sexually explicit discussion,[7] vulgar terminology used in a comment on the sexuality ofJustin Bieber,[8] derogatory comments about women,[9] and comments that appeared to supportviolence against women.[10]
The program received a one-day suspension following a 2004 appearance byJackass cast memberSteve-O, in which Steve-O urinated on the studio floor, used several profanities, and performed a stunt that involved wrappingduct tape around his penis.[11]
In 2009, he was sued for defamation byLinda Jackson, the mayor of the Toronto suburb ofVaughan, after reportedly calling her a "fraudster" and a "fat pig" on the air.[12]
In 2011, he granted an interview toShirley Phelps-Roper in exchange for theWestboro Baptist Church dropping its controversial plan to picket the funeral of2011 Tucson shooting victim Christina Taylor Green.[13]
In 2013, he was widely criticized for comments that appeared to mock the death of hockey playerKristiāns Pelšs, suggesting that Pelšs (whose death was accidental) had committedsuicide because that was preferable to living inEdmonton.[14]
Through 2012 and 2013, Blundell's show was the subject of nine separate complaints to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council,[15] and was formally censured six times.[15]
Blundell was indefinitely suspended from CFNY in December 2013,[16] following reports that he and cohost Derek Welsman had discussed on the air ajury trial in which Welsman was the foreman.[17] The trial concerned asexual assault charge against a client of agay bathhouse,[17] and Blundell and Welsman's commentary about it was criticized both forhomophobia and for potentially causing amistrial by publicly discussing the jury deliberations.[17] The program's cancellation was announced in January 2014.[18]
Following his departure from CFNY, Blundell launched apodcast, and announced plans to launch his ownInternet radio stream.[15] He guest hosted an episode of Fan 590'sJeff Blair Show in May 2014[1] and was named to the station's permanent new lineup in 2015.[2]
Rogers Radio executive Scott Moore expressed confidence that Blundell's controversial history would not detract from the station's brand, noting that "He knows that this is a very different show. His mandate at the Edge was to be edgy and he knows a) that's not what we’re asking for and b) it would be unacceptable."[2] He was dropped from Fan 590 in February 2017.[3]
Blundell said in 2018 that he regretted the on-air controversies from his show onCFNY-FM.[19]