You will no longer hear MC Gilles’ voice on 98.5 FM broadcasts. The management of Cogeco Media’s flagship station cut all professional ties with the star columnist on Wednesday morning, reveals an internal memo obtained by The Press.
This very short message announces to employees that MC Gilles, who was heard in Quebec now by Patrick Lagacé, will no longer return on the air. “For professional reasons which remain internal, the association between Cogeco Media and MC Gilles ended yesterday, Tuesday April 9. He will not be replaced before the end of the current season. No further comments will be made,” reads the email sent Wednesday morning to 98.5 FM staff.
Reacting to the news on Facebook, MC Gilles confirmed that it was Cogeco Media who had made the decision to thank him. The columnist claimed that it had become “psychologically impossible for him to work on the return show”, where “the climate has worsened considerably in recent months”. “A situation clashed with my values and I expressed it, which did not please. Out of respect for the people concerned, I will not give more details but I find it very unfortunate to be the scapegoat in this story,” he concluded, while wishing success to the returning team for the end of the season.
The management of 98.5 FM did not elaborate further on the reasons leading to this abrupt professional break. Host Patrick Lagacé did not comment either.