On the 19th June, 2010 Rickey Reid a.k.a Lil Rick played a song during the Mackeson Triple Tunes live radio show which contained explicit and offensive lyrical content. Despite initial reports by Starcom Network Inc that Lil Rick did not apologise for his actions, I wish to confirm that upon realizing the error which had been made, Lil Rick played the radio friendly version of the recording. He also immediately contacted Mr. Ronnie Clarke, Programme Manager of Starcom Network and Mr. Ricky Nurse CEO and Divisional Manager of Brydens Distribution, the sponsor of the Mackeson Triple Tunes show to which he is presently contracted to inform them of what had transpired. After concluding dialogue with both individuals, Lil Rick apologized to his listeners on radio for his actions.
In a statement issued on the 24th June, 2010 on Hott 95.3 FM’s website- www.hot953fm.com Starcom unequivocally stated that Lil Rick did not apologise for his actions. This assertion was repeated at page 3 of the Nation newspaper’s article of the 25th June, 2010.
Starcom would later admit through Mr. Ronnie Clarke during the Brasstacks programme on the 25th June, 2010 that Lil Rick did in fact apologise for his actions.
It is also questionable why Starcom would seek to upload the extract of the incident on its website but omit to upload also Lil Rick’s apology which would also have been in their possession. The attempts by Starcom to deliberately mislead the public both in the electronic, radio and print media thereby causing the public to question Lil Rick’s motives and also his remorse for his actions is reckless.
Starcom has further misled the public by deliberately giving the impression that Lil Rick was employed by them at the time of the incident and was therefore fired during the course of his employment. In their online statement issued on the 24th June, 2010 Starcom made reference not only to various documents which members of staff would have signed but also implied that Lil Rick had on occasion been counseled, reprimanded and disciplined on three prior occasions in accordance with “established employee protocols.”
This was coupled with an announcement on various radio stations of Starcom Network that the circumstances under which Lil Rick had been “fired” would be ventilated on the Brasstacks programme on the 25th June, 2010. Also at page 3 of the Nation newspaper’s article of the 25th June, 2010, Mr. Trevor Yearwood quoted Starcom Network Inc. as having taken action against Lil Rick “in keeping with our established employee protocols.”
Over the course of the past few days, both myself and Lil Rick have been inundated with telephone calls about him being fired from Starcom. This has been further agitated by headlines in the Nation newspaper which have read as follows “Dawg Gone- Starcom fires Lil Rick over dirty lyrics” and “ Starcom defends decision to fire popular DJ” on the 25th June and 26th June, 2010 respectively.
I wish to categorically state that Lil Rick was not employed or subject to a contract of employment by Starcom Network at the time of this incident. At the material time, he was under a contract for services with Brydens Distribution which commenced on the 2nd May, 2009 to provide several services to the Mackeson brand including the hosting of the Triples Tunes programme between the hours of 12-3pm on Hott 95.3 FM. To the best of my knowledge, Brydens Distribution entered into an agreement directly with Starcom Network Inc. with the understanding that Lil Rick would host the weekly programme. At no time during the course of Lil Rick’s engagement with Bryden’s Distribution has he received any formal document or protocols of any nature relating to his on air presence or relative to Starcom Network Inc.’s position as it relates to the broadcast of the show.
I am in possession of official correspondence from Ms Veoma Ali, Advertising Manager of Starcom Network Inc. dated 23rd June, 2010 and received on the 24th June, 2010 addressed to me in my capacity as the manager of Lil Rick stating inter alia that, “we wish to officially submit our decision to no longer allow Ricky Reid (Lil Rick) on the airwaves of the Starcom Network of Stations.” There is no mention in the said correspondence of Lil Rick being subject to a contract of employment. I again question the motives of the authors of Starcom Network’s press releases and the subsequent statements of its agents as they seek to convey impressions which are false and reckless in nature and content.
Starcom has also implied that Lil Rick’s acted in a way which was in contravention of customary practice at Starcom Network Inc. with respect to the playing of music which was not in their system. I can confirm that the song which Lil Rick played was not in the system at Starcom Network Inc. However, it must be pointed out that Lil Rick’s actions were not an irregular occurrence in the course of his on air presence at Starcom and it was well known and condoned by the station over the years that he would play songs from his laptop or from CD’s brought onto the premises. To imply otherwise is to mislead the public that he was acting contrary to established and accepted practice by the management of Starcom Network Inc.
I have by letter dated 25th June, 2010 expressed my concern to Starcom Network Inc. in my capacity as Lil Rick’s attorney-at-law that some of the statements published by Starcom via the internet and in the local press are grossly defamatory and are calculated to cause injury to his reputation.
I have demanded a public retraction of the published statement, an apology in terms to be approved by me and I have notified them of our intention to claim monetary compensation for the injury to Lil Rick’s reputation.

SANTIA BRADSHAW
Attorney-at-Law

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 27th, 2010 at 6:54 pm and is filed under Uncategorized . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.