Bubba the Love Sponge Off The Air in Tampa: Reports

TAMPA, FL — Bubba the Love Sponge fans won’t be able to tune into 98.7 in Tampa to hear the controversial radio personality any longer. The station’s owner has reportedly announced a format change that doesn’t include the Bubba the Love Sponge Show.

As of Monday, the Tampa station was playing back-to-back Christmas tunes. Its website had been rebranded as “SANTA 98.7.” Bubba, whose real name is Todd Clem, was still mentioned on the site.

Beasley Media Group, the owner of 98.7, struck a deal with Clem early last year to bring the disk jockey’s brand of rock back to the Tampa Bay area. Prior to his 2015 return to the local airwaves, Clem was ousted from Cox Media’s 102.5 The Bone in 2014.

Bubba has been a fixture on Tampa Bay radio for years with his show airing on various stations. Not afraid to capture headlines, Bubba caused quite a stir in when a wild boar was slaughtered on his show. He was charged with animal cruelty, but was acquitted in 2002.

A feud between Clem and fellow-DJ Todd “MJ” Schnitt also captured headlines as the two faced off in court.

Most recently, Clem made national headlines after a sex tape of his former wife, Health Cole, and wrestler Hulk Hogan surfaced. Gawker Media’s decision to post the video on its website ended up costing the company $140.1 million in a lawsuit judgement.

While the Beasley Media Group has pulled Bubba’s show in Tampa, its WRXK/96K-ROCK in Fort Myers will continue to carry it, the Tampa Bay Business Journal reported.

Just what formatting changes the Tampa station will adopt remains unclear. A request for comment from Beasley Media Group made by Patch was not immediately responded to.

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