Bubba the Love Sponge

This article is about the person. For the show, see Bubba the Love Sponge Show.
Bubba the Love Sponge

2013 Promotional Image
Born Todd Alan Clem
(1966-04-23) April 23, 1966
Warsaw, Indiana
Occupation Radio personality, producer, actor
Years active 1985–present
Spouse(s) Heather Cole (2007–2011)
Website http://www.btls.com
http://www.bubbaarmy.com

Bubba the Love Sponge Clem (born Todd Alan Clem,[1] April 23, 1966) is the host of The Bubba the Love Sponge Show.[2]

Radio career

Clem, a native of Warsaw, Indiana, began his radio career on Indiana State University's WISU-FM. Following school, one of his first paying radio jobs was at WGRD radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

On December 20, 1988, a 13-year-old girl listening to the show called Clem, who made sexual references to Danny Czekalinski (his crosstown competitor) to the caller. Clem was fired the next day.[3][4] Clem then worked for a brief period WLUM-FM in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1999, Clem legally changed his name to "Bubba the Love Sponge".[1]

On January 27, 2004, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Notice of Apparent Liability (a precursor to a fine) of $755,000 against four stations owned by Clear Channel Communications (including its parent station, WXTB) for airing segments of "Bubba the Love Sponge" which included graphic discussions about sex and drugs. The FCC alleged the material was "designed to pander to, titillate and shock listeners". One segment featured the cartoon characters Alvin and the Chipmunks, George Jetson and Scooby-Doo discussing sexual activities.[5] The Commission issued a maximum fine of $27,500 for each of the 26 broadcasts of the segment, and added a $40,000 penalty for record-keeping violations.

On February 23, 2004, Clear Channel Communications canceled Clem's show. Two days later, Clear Channel CEO John Hogan testified in front of Congress, and stated Clear Channel would no longer air the "Bubba the Love Sponge" show.

In August 2013 an audiotape was released on YouTube of Clem voicing a commercial for Vermont Teddy Bear. In this commercial Clem is heard making racist remarks; he denied being racist and said: "I never said the word in that manner, ever." He believed that the audio was leaked from "someone who had access to [his] world" and that audio bits were taken from recordings when he worked at Clear Channel.[6] Clem's company, Bubba Radio Network, ordered the removal of the video from YouTube, although it is now hosted on TMZ.[7]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

On January 3, 2010, Bubba announced via his Twitter account that he had signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a backstage interviewer.[8][9] He made his debut the following day on the special live, three-hour, Monday night edition of TNA Impact!, participating in four short backstage segments.[10]

On January 16, 2010, Clem made remarks on Twitter regarding the January 12 earthquake, saying he had tired of hearing about relief efforts for the people of Haiti, writing, "F--k Haiti" on his Twitter account, and referring to the ensuing deaths of Haitians in the earthquake as a "cleanse." Clem later apologized, but TNA management nonetheless temporarily removed him from the air.[11]

On January 19, 2010, Clem claimed that he had been blind-sided and physically assaulted by Awesome Kong while backstage for the taping of TNA Impact! the previous day, claims which were substantiated on his program by TNA's Hulk Hogan. According to all three, the altercation was a result of the Twitter comments made by Clem concerning the Haiti relief project.[12][13] On February 25, Clem announced that he was finished working with TNA Wrestling. That same day, news broke that Awesome Kong had filed a lawsuit against Clem for an alleged threatening phone call.[14] Later on The Cowhead Show, Clem confronted Stevens, allegedly using racially charged comments.[15]

Clem returned to TNA television as the personal interviewer of wrestling stable The Band, in late March,[16] only to be fired from the company on April 30, 2010, as a result of the Cowhead Show incident.[17]

Legal issues

Criminal charges and acquittal

On February 27, 2001, while on the air at WXTB in Tampa, Florida, Clem slaughtered and barbecued a wild Florida boar that had been captured by a professional hunter. Sound effects of hogs feeding were broadcast to lead listeners to believe the hog was being harassed and aggravated. Clem, his Executive Producer Brent Hatley, and two other people were charged with animal cruelty; all four defendants were acquitted by a jury.[18] [19] The trial was covered by Court TV.

Lawsuits

In 2007, Clem was sued for defamation by competitor disc jockey Todd Schnitt, over on-air remarks Clem made about Schnitt's family. A court ruled in Clem's favor, and Schnitt vowed to appeal. In March 2013, after 13 hours of negotiations, Clem reached a settlement with Schnitt.[20]

In October 2015, Nielsen sued Clem for $1 million over allegations of tampering with the ratings system by offering to pay several Nielsen panelists to manipulate the ratings by saying they listened to his show more than they actually did. Clem admitted to paying one person to manipulate the ratings, but Nielsen claimed he influenced several panelists. Clem's lawyer filed a motion asking that Nielsen's lawsuit be dismissed.[21]

Hulk Hogan sex tape

Main article: Bollea v. Gawker

In early 2012, it was reported that Clem had filmed his then-wife Heather Clem and Hulk Hogan having sex in his bedroom. Subsequently, on October 4, 2012, Gawker released a short clip of the video.[22] In this video, Clem can be heard saying that the couple can "do their thing" and he will be in his office. Furthermore, at the end of the video, Clem can also be heard telling Heather, "If we ever need to retire, here is our ticket".[23] Hogan filed a lawsuit against Clem and his now ex-wife for invading his privacy on October 15, 2012.[24] Hogan later settled the lawsuit on October 29, 2012.[25] Following the settlement, Clem also publicly apologized to Hogan.[26] Hogan sued Gawker Media for publishing the tape, and a jury of six awarded Hogan more than $140 million in March 2016.[27] Gawker has announced it will appeal as they were "disappointed" that the jury was unable to hear Clem's testimony.[28]

Personal life

Clem has been married twice, most recently to Heather Clem (née Cole) on January 14, 2007, at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg, Florida.[29] He filed for divorce from Heather on September 15, 2011.[30]


References

  1. 1 2 Ringler, Lance (October 26, 2011). "Bubba the Love Sponge Btls.com". Zimbio. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  2. ↑ "All the latest from Bubba Army Radio". radioio. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  3. ↑ The Grand Rapids Press, December 16, 1988
  4. ↑ The Grand Rapids Press, December 22, 1988
  5. ↑ "FCC Issues Steep Indecency Fines". CBS News. January 27, 2004.
  6. ↑ "Bubba the Love Sponge: YouTube audio with n-word not what it seems". Tampa Bay Times.
  7. ↑ "Bubba the Love Sponge -- Racist Filth Caught on Tape".
  8. ↑ Clem, Todd (January 3, 2010). "watch spiketv(Monday)8pm est 4hulks return 2wrestling I'm the new backstage guy think I'm on a total of 4x Please tell everybody u know.". Twitter. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  9. ↑ Martin, Adam (January 4, 2010). "New backstage interviewer for TNA". WrestleView. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  10. ↑ Keller, Wade (January 4, 2010). "Keller's TNA Impact Live Report 1/4: Jeff Hardy, NWO reunion, Hulk Hogan, TNA Knockout Title match, more surprises". PWTorch. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  11. ↑ Eck, Kevin (January 18, 2010). "Bubba The Love Sponge apologizes for Haiti comments". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Kong sent home by TNA after fight last night". Wrestling Observer. January 19, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Awesome Kong Punches Bubba the Love Sponge?". Diva-Dirt. January 19, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  14. ↑ Brown, Karina (February 25, 2010). "Wrestler Accuses 'Love Sponge' of Hate Call". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  15. ↑ Gerweck, Steve (July 30, 2010). "Audio: BTLS confronts Awesome Kong". WrestleView. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
  16. ↑ Caldwell, James (March 29, 2010). "CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 3/29: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV show - cage match with Jeff Hardy, RVD, Wolfpack". PWTorch. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Info Regarding Bubba the Love Sponge". TNA Wrestling. April 30, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Cleared of cruelty, DJ vows revenge". St. Petersburg Times. March 1, 2002.
  19. ↑ "Florida shock jock faces animal cruelty charges". CNN. February 25, 2002.
  20. ↑ Trenkmann, Chris (March 13, 2013). "Bubba, Schnitt reach legal settlement". ABC Action News. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  21. ↑ http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/investigations/2015/12/01/bubba-the-love-sponge-nielsen-10-investigates-rating-tampering/76628366/
  22. ↑ Daulerio, A. J. (October 4, 2012). "Even for a Minute, Watching Hulk Hogan Have Sex in a Canopy Bed is Not Safe For Work but Watch it Anyway". Gawker. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Hulk Hogan Sex Tape". SexTape.com. February 4, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Hulk Hogan to sue former friend Bubba the Love Sponge, sex tape partner Heather Clem for invasion of privacy". The New York Daily News. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  25. ↑ "Hulk Hogan Settles Sex Tape Lawsuit With DJ". The New York Times.
  26. ↑ Gicas, Peter (October 29, 2012). "Hulk Hogan Settles Sex Tape Lawsuit With Bubba the Love Sponge". E! Online. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  27. ↑ ABC News. "Jurors in Hulk Hogan v Gawker Trial Say They Made ‘Absolutely Correct’ Decision Awarding Hogan $140M". ABC News.
  28. ↑ Turkel, Dan (March 18, 2016). "Gawker says it may appeal the Hulk Hogan sex-tape case". Business Insider. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  29. ↑ Deggans, Eric. "Bubba Files for Divorce". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  30. ↑ Gillin, Joshua. "Bubba the Love Sponge Alimony Payments". Tampabay Times. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
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