FIRST ON 3: Big Talker terminates controversial morning host

WILMINGTON — The Big Talker FM announced today it has fired talk show host Curtis Wright. Paul Knight, Vice President and General Manager for Sea-Com, Inc., which owns the radio station, announced Wright’s termination in a news release.

When reached by phone, Knight would not say what led to Wright’s dismissal, except to say it was “absolutely not” related to a lawsuit filed against Wright and Sea-Com last year by Tom Fetzer, now head of the state Republican Party.

“This was a decision we had to ponder for several months, and one we had to bring to a logical conclusion today,” Wright told WWAY.

Wright has developed a devoted following for his politically conservative show “The Morning Beat,” which he has hosted for more than three years, according to Knight. The show also created a good bit of controversy. Perhaps most notable was the slander lawsuit filed by Fetzer after Wright forwarded an anonymous letter about Fetzer, who was trying to become head of the NCGOP, to Republican leaders. The two sides settled the lawsuit in October.

Knight said a replacement for Wright’s show would be named soon.

Tune in tonight to WWAY to hear what Wright has to say about his dismissal.