For the first time in 20 years, Chuy Gomez will no longer be the morning radio host at radio station 106 KMEL.
Gomez confirmed the news in a video posted on Instagram.
“The rumors are true,” he said in the clip. “I want to thank the Bay Area for listening to KMEL for 20-plus years. I love you guys.”
Gomez then turned to his daughters, and said, “Daddy's gotta move on."
There was no mention of the departure on KMEL's Twitter page, although Gomez has been removed from the "on air" list on the station's website.
A number of fans of the radio personality expressed their anger on KMEL’s Facebook page and also on NBC Bay Area's Facebook page.
“At the very least, you could have shown Chuy some respect by giving him a proper goodbye,” Tim Martinez said in one post. “How do you just drop a Bay Area legend that has been part of your team for 20 years?”
Local
Gomez told NBC Bay Area in an exclusive interview that the station was looking to move in a new direction. The 44-year-old doesn't plan to end his career anytime soon and said his priority at the moment is his family.
"It's not over," Gomez said. "Tune in for the next episode and on to the next."
KMEL officials would not comment on the matter, but provided a statement.
“Out of respect for employee privacy we do not discuss personnel matters, but he is no longer with KMEL,” said Don Parker, the station’s vice president of programming, in an e-mailed statement.
KMEL announced in a press release that Afternoon Drive host Sana G. will be taking over Gomez’s morning-show shift beginning on Monday, Aug. 19.
KMEL is owned by Clear Channel Media.
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