Howard Stern

During the 2016 presidential campaign, numerous media outlets asked Stern to rebroadcast old interviews in which Donald Trump had made extremely explicit remarks about women and his sex life. Stern refused to make the recordings available himself, explaining that Trump had spoken to him in an environment of trust and that reusing them would feel like a betrayal.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

During an appearance on Stern's programme, Anna Nicole Smith was pressured to step onto a scale while the host and callers commented on her weight. She subsequently told Larry King that the episode and the cruel calls had deeply hurt her and contributed to her motivation to lose weight.

State of the evidence

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Personally implicated

Following renewed complaints about a 2003 programme, the FCC found several segments of The Howard Stern Show apparently indecent and proposed maximum fines against Clear Channel subsidiaries. Clear Channel suspended and then removed Stern from several stations and entered into a broader settlement with the FCC.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

The Howard Stern Show built part of its reputation around the 'Wack Pack', a recurring group of guests who sometimes had disabilities, disorders, addictions or significant social vulnerability. Critics accused the programme of making people laugh at the expense of individuals unable to fully appreciate their public exposure.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

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Directly implicated

The day after the Columbine massacre, Stern questioned on air why the killers had not attempted to have sex with students before killing themselves. The remarks provoked an extremely strong reaction in Colorado, with the state legislature passing a resolution calling for the programme's removal from local airwaves.

State of the evidence

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Personally implicated

The arrival of The Howard Stern Show in Montreal and Toronto immediately generated hundreds of complaints. The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council found that broadcasts contained unduly discriminatory remarks targeting French Canadians and other groups, repeated sexist comments and sexual descriptions inappropriate for hours when children might be listening.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

For years, Stern's radio programmes were the subject of multiple FCC indecency findings concerning explicit sexual discussions and content considered sensationalist. Infinity Broadcasting accumulated proposed fines and ultimately agreed in 1995 to pay $1.71 million to settle the dispute.

State of the evidence

Settlement

Attribution

Directly implicated

A few days after singer Selena's murder, Stern mocked her music and some of her fans and broadcast gunshot sound effects. The programme provoked considerable anger in Mexican-American communities and calls for a boycott.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated