John Derringer Faces Human Rights Tribunal Amidst Allegations of Misconduct
Former Q107 host John Derringer is currently defending himself against allegations of verbal abuse and gender-based discrimination at a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal hearing. The case, brought forth by his former co-host Jennifer Valentyne, has brought to light a series of accusations and counter-claims regarding the work environment at the Toronto radio station.
Valentyne’s Allegations
Jennifer Valentyne alleges that she experienced verbal abuse and gender-based discrimination while working on Derringer in the Morning from 2017 to 2019. She previously stated before the tribunal that Derringer watched pornography at work and that vaping in-studio impacted her voice, leading to a chronic smoker’s cough.
Derringer’s Testimony
Derringer refuted Valentyne’s claims during his testimony on Wednesday, March 26, 2026. He stated he never watched pornography at work, saying, “That did not happen.” He did admit, but, that he and his colleagues occasionally visited websites with risque photos while searching for content for the show.
Regarding the vaping allegations, Derringer acknowledged vaping in the studio but stated that Valentyne initially indicated she was comfortable with it, though he later recognized it was inappropriate. “I did it, I’m embarrassed about it,” he said.
Concerns About Valentyne’s Performance
Derringer also presented his own assessment of Valentyne’s performance, alleging she was unprepared for her role, “obsessed with appearances,” and lacked a strong understanding of radio compared to her previous television work. He further claimed she did not actively promote the show on her social media platforms and generally lacked effort.
“It was like she just didn’t want to do anything,” Derringer testified.
Q107’s Struggles and Valentyne’s Hire
Derringer testified about the challenges Q107 faced around 2017, noting declining ratings and competition from Boom 97.3. He stated the station was attempting to attract a wider audience, particularly female listeners, which led to Valentyne’s hiring. He described the station as “floundering” at the time.
Derringer’s Management Style
Derringer acknowledged a demanding management style, stating he was “very hard on people” and that those who didn’t meet his expectations were often removed from their roles. “If they weren’t working, they weren’t staying. That’s just the way it was,” he said. “There was nothing that was going to stop me from doing the very best radio that we could do.”
Show Hiatus and Departure
Derringer in the Morning was placed on hiatus in May 2022, pending an ethics and conduct review. Derringer and Q107 “parted ways” permanently in August 2022.
The hearing at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal is ongoing.