Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tools

Ratings Scandal Not the First Controversy to Surround WPRO Morning Host

John Eagan

This is not the first time John DePetro has found himself in the midst of controversy.  After leaving the Providence market after years on the air here, he went to Boston where he tried to make it big time.  But he wound up getting fired.

After less than a decade at WHJJ in Providence, he had moved on to Boston's WRKO-AM Radio, but controversy soon followed.

His bosses were stunned after DePetro called 2 different people slurs on two separate occasions.  First he used a slur making a homosexual reference, aimed at then turnpike authority chairman Matt Amorello.
    
Months later WRKO fired him and his radio engineer after he used derogatory language about then Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate, Grace Ross.

DePetro returned to the Rhode Island airwaves as the morning drive host for WPRO in February of last year.  Now, more controversy looms.

ABC 6 anchor Paul Mueller has the latest...

Friday, Aug 22 at 12:56 PM Jerry wrote ...

John DePetro is Mr. Ego. Here's a guy who hunts and haunts others with no mercy. Now it's his turn....and he doesn't like it. 5 people live in his house and 6 diaries came from there? The Arbitron invitation letter states that no one who works in the media can participate in the survey. She lied when she sign the letter asking for 6 diaries. Maybe she doesn't know John works in radio???

6255714
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Monday, Aug 11 at 7:08 PM Rita wrote ...

So what is going to happen. Nothing? This guy should be dumped. I know personally he has a sewer. I can't believe others writing that they have received threats. Why is he still on the air. Why hasn't ABC 6 fired him by now. I am sure others have complained to the powers that be about him. So why is he still on air? The listeners DON'T LIKE HIM. DO YOU GET IT.

5986019
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Sunday, Aug 10 at 9:40 AM Margarita Chatterton wrote ...

DePetro is the "In Depends Man"...he needs a rug to cover his baldness and he needs the shadows to hide his bi-polar mental ilnesses. FIRE HIM now like all others have done once all of his sicknesses have been exposed. He's a liar, cheater, fraud and criminal who should be locked up and not allowed to interract with society at all. He only cares about his own fabricated hype, and he makes the public & caring people want to throw up!

5959524
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Saturday, Aug 9 at 1:00 AM Boston Personality wrote ...

He threatened me with a lawsuit when I wrote commentary about the Boston situation. DePetro is thin-skinned. First Amendment to him is his right to say things while silencing you. Try talking to him on the air about how egregious messing with Arbitron is. This impacts ALL of WPRO, all the hard-working air staff and advertising people have to suffer because of DePetro's greed. Rhode Island can have him, keep John DePetro out of Boston. His personal failings aside, he's a terrible radio host.

5943782
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Friday, Aug 8 at 11:54 PM Harvey Kytell, East G. wrote ...

Looks like Ron (The Saint) at 'pro may have to retract the self-promotion in a recent blog. His braggin' about being numero uno, say it ain't so, perhaps another case of shooting his big mouth off.

5943077
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Friday, Aug 8 at 12:01 AM Tanya wrote ...

ABC6..You got the scoop of the year so far. This story can not be ignored. I've listened to WPRO for years and I want to say there's another personality on the station from the East Greenwich area. Somthing isn't right and know it's only a matter of time before you uncover the WHOLE story.

5917062
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Thursday, Aug 7 at 7:18 PM John Pascale, Tiverton wrote ...

You welcomed back this shallow, foul mouthed dirt bag to RI in the name of "Ratings". So, you are just as much , if not more responsible for wallowing in the dirt with this disgrace to our state, its people and our common heritage.

5911802
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Thursday, Aug 7 at 6:51 PM DePetro Hater wrote ...

ya keep digging, i have plenty of threats from the guy!

5911282
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Thursday, Aug 7 at 5:18 PM Richard "AGAIN" wrote ...

Thank YOU ABC 6 for doing YOUR HOME WORK on John DePetro. KEEP LOOKING AND DIGGING YOU WILL FINE MORE ON THIS MAN.

5909139
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

Please post your full name and city on comments.

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

ABC 6 and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

More Good Stuff

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
See more local news for your community
Warwick | Cranston | South East Massachusetts | Newport | Bristol | East Greenwich | Providence |

Online Poll

Do You Think Increased Tax Revenue Means RI's Economy is Turning Around?

  • No, it's probably from some stealth tax HIKE that we don't know about.
  • Yes, things have been awful for awhile, and they're finally getting better.
More On Demand

AP Video