Dean Blundell on the air in 2005.Tibor Kolley/The Globe and Mail
Toronto radio station CFNY has been reprimanded by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council after a host made comments about Justin Bieber fans that the council concluded "inappropriately sexualized children."
In a decision released Wednesday, the council said the comments violated part of its "equitable portrayal code," which prohibits the sexualization of children in broadcasting.
The council said CFNY morning host Dean Blundell tweeted about his dislike for Bieber last October and suggested in vulgar terms that the singer was likely gay. He subsequently received tweets from Bieber's fans, noting on air on Oct. 20, 2009, that they were likely 12 years old, the council said.
During that show, Blundell and his co-hosts then repeated select tweets and Blundell's responses, some of which apparently referred to incest.
According to the council's account: "To a female fan, Blundell said he had tweeted, 'Save your energy for puberty or to fend off your dad tonight while you're sleepin."' About the one male fan who had contacted him, Blundell said, "He'll be chuggin' before he's 18 ... if he likes that music."
The council concluded that the comments were "gratuitous and unnecessary."
CFNY must now announce the decision on air within the next three days during peak listening hours, and once more during the time slot in which Blundell's show was broadcast last October. They must also prove to the council that they have done so.
The council's investigation was spurred by a complaint from a listener, who had previously tried to take the issue up with a program director at CFNY.
A spokesperson for the station did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council is an independent, non-governmental organization created by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters in 1986 to administer standards established by its members.
The decision comes as gossip sites are buzzing about reports that Bieber was allegedly caught up in an altercation during a game of laser tag in Vancouver.
The celebrity gossip website TMZ.com quoted unnamed sources saying a boy went out of his way to target Bieber during a laser tag game before using an anti-gay slur against the Juno-nominated singer.