BERLIN (JTA) — A Berlin radio station has fired disc jockey and commentator Ken Jebsen, who was accused of anti-Semitism.
Jebsen, who wrote recently in a letter to a listener that he "knew who invented the Holocaust as PR," was fired for "failing to adhere to journalistic standards," according to a statement from the national broadcaster RBB.
In a recent e-mail, he made comments widely interpreted as Holocaust denial. Jebsen, who for 10 years played music, hosted local musicians and sometimes offered political commentary on his weekly "KenFM" show, also had suggested on the air that the CIA orchestrated the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the United States.
After cancelling one broadcast and insisting that Jebsen submit all future political commentary to his editors, RBB decided to pull the plug when Jebsen reportedly did not keep to his side of the bargain. Jebsen’s immediate supervisor has quit his job.
RBB program director Claudia Nothelle told reporters this week that she had defended Jebsen against charges of anti-Semitism, but that "unfortunately we have found that many of his contributions don’t meet RBB’s journalistic standards." She did not immediately provide examples.
Jebsen has defended himself against charges of anti-Semitism. According to Spiegel Online magazine, many of his fans have made anti-Semitic statements in support of him in Internet forums.
Berlin Jewish leaders had called for tougher measures against Jebsen last week, noting Christian Dior’s firing of fashion guru John Galliano last spring for anti-Semitic comments.
