Kid Carson and Stingray’s Z95.3 (CKZZ-FM) Vancouver have mutually agreed to part ways after the host embarked on an on-air rant Wednesday morning in support of the ongoing trucker convoy in Ottawa.
As first reported by Daily Hive in Vancouver, Carson started his commentary by expressing frustration at having to “avoid talking about all the things that really matter.”
“It weighs heavy on me not to share my honest feelings and commentary on what’s happening around us,” said the host. “I used to mention little things here and there, political things, it ended up just wearing down the relationship I had with my bosses, to be honest. One morning, six months ago, I shared my opposition to the [vaccine] passports and it was never really the same after that again. I paid a very heavy price for saying that and I begged for forgiveness to the people that needed me to say that. I promised I wouldn’t say anything else controversial…my opposition to mandates and passports, those things would just stay locked in my head, but honestly I just feel like a piece of me died, I feel like I became a sellout or something.”
As he voiced his knowingly controversial stance, Carson acknowledged that his contract with Stingray was coming to a close shortly.
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“This radio show sucks without another point of view, the whole media landscape sucks without another point of view,” said Carson. “I just feel like I’m trying to stay on my best behaviour so I can be liked again, instead of doing what we are all supposed to be doing which is having passionate discussions about the insanity around us.”
The host went on to plug his new podcast, which starts at a subscriber rate of $20/month, saying he had kids to feed. He then took calls from supportive listeners.
Late Wednesday, Z95.3 posted a statement to Instagram from Devon Tschritter, Stingray Vancouver General Manager, saying that Carson’s broadcast didn’t represent the values of the station or company.
“His opinions on vaccines, vaccine mandates, and other issues are his own and we respect that he has a right to his opinions. But he does not have a right to broadcast misleading or inaccurate opinions and label them as facts,” reads the statement. “After today’s show, we reached a mutual decision to part ways. Kid has some very strong views on a number of polarizing topics. While we respect his right to have and express those views, they do not represent what Z95.3 is all about.”
Carson, who started his career with Z95.3 before going on to stints with The Beat (CFBT-FM) and KiSS Radio (CKKS-FM), had been hosting alongside actor, comedian, and childhood friend Jordan McCloskey since March 2020. McCloskey is best known for appearing in CMT mockumentary The Wilkinsons and Three Chords From The Truth, which earned him a 2009 Gemini award.
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