Friday, January 18, 2013

Tampa Radio: Bubba Finishes Trial Testimony

Todd Clem
Todd ‘Bubba the Love Sponge’ Clem returned to the stand Thursday in the defamation lawsuit trial filed by Todd "MJ" Schnitt.

Schnitt is suing Clem and the BTLS Radio Network for what he said were "highly offensive, insulting or fighting words and defamatory statements" made on the radio five years ago.

Clem's attorneys said it was free speech, protected by the First Amendment.

Schnitt says Clem targeted him and his wife, Michelle, then an assistant state attorney. Clem's attorneys say it all was simply radio humor. Clem had just returned to local broadcasting with WHPT-FM 102.5 FM after a stint in satellite radio. Schnitt was then the morning radio DJ on WFLZ-FM 93.3.

In court Thursday afternoon, BayNews9 reports Clem was asked to look at a drawing that had appeared on his website.  It's a Photoshopped picture of a large woman, carrying a small man to bed.

Attorney: “Would you take a look at Mrs. Schnitt? See her? You see the face on this Photoshop? Is that Mr. Schnitts face?"

“With all due respect, it’s not really that clear,” Bubba answered.

The drawing talks about MJ being fired from Clear Channel. Bubba said a listener made it.

“My show is entertainment. We put on a show, very few people turn to my show. It’s like a 60 minutes-based show. It’s a show. It’s an entertaining show. A ton of hyperbole, a ton of satire. It’s a show.”

A former Clear Channel radio executive also took the stand Thursday. See separate posting, Click Here.

Court will resume Friday at 8:45 a.m. VIEW LIVE COVERAGE, Click Here.

The trial is expected to last two more weeks.

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