SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Domestic violence advocates said a popular radio host shouldn't be cashing in off his divorce now that the staged video of him being served while on-air has gone viral.
The radio station posted video of Russ Rollins supposedly being surprised by divorce papers that outline domestic abuse claims.
“Wow, so she had me served on the air. That’s very nice,” Rollins said in the video during his "Monsters in the Morning" program.
In the divorce papers, Rollins' estranged wife accuses him of beating her. She's now demanding transcripts of the radio show in her legal battle.
Channel 9's Steve Barrett asked iHeart Media, which owns the station, if it was taking domestic violence issues seriously. The company was apparently profiting off the video via pre-roll ads.
iHeart Media never returned WFTV's calls, but the ads stopped running after Barrett's initial story aired on Friday. On Monday, it appeared as if the video was taken down.
Carol Wick, CEO of domestic violence shelter Harbor House, said iHeart Media may need a better domestic violence policy.
"I think this is the kind of thing that happens when companies don't have those kinds of policies in place," she said.
Barrett learned even the process server is being harassed by Rollins' listeners after being lured into the studio live by Rollins during a live segment.
The company the process server works for told Channel 9 their employee had no idea he was serving Rollins papers live on the radio. In recorded video, there's a look of shock on his face, Barrett said.
WFTV has learned that Rollins' estranged wife has also received threats from those who believed the videotaped stunt.
Wick hopes the radio giant will re-tool its policies.
Rollins has not commented on the incident other than on his radio show. He has not been charged with domestic violence.
WFTV
