August 10, 2025

Joe Bullard Sues Cumulus Media for Age Discrimination

News Summary

Joe Bullard, a well-known radio personality in Florida, has filed a lawsuit against Cumulus Media Inc. citing age discrimination under the Florida Civil Rights Act. According to Bullard, who is 72, he experienced unequal treatment at work and was discouraged from playing music he enjoyed, labeled ‘too old’ by management. He seeks over $50,000 in damages, claiming targeted mistreatment following a workplace incident that led to his alleged forced resignation. Cumulus Media has yet to respond to the lawsuit.

Tallahassee, Florida

Prominent radio personality Joe Bullard has filed a lawsuit against Cumulus Media Inc., alleging age discrimination and a violation of the Florida Civil Rights Act. The lawsuit, lodged on August 1, 2025, in the Leon County Circuit Civil court, claims that the 72-year-old Bullard was subjected to “disparate treatment” at his workplace due to his age.

Bullard asserts that he was held to different standards than younger colleagues and was told that the music he played was deemed “too old.” He is seeking over $50,000 in damages due to what he describes as targeted mistreatment, including inadequate technical support and instructions to change his music selection. In early 2025, a consultant reportedly advised Bullard to stop playing songs by certain artists, such as Anita Baker and Gladys Knight, who were classified as “too old” for the station.

The legal action follows an email from market/station manager Dot Ealy and human resources district manager Joseph “Joey” Wheeler, which Bullard claims was sent after a meeting where he was informed that he had been banned from Disney properties. This ban was reportedly linked to an allegation of a “sexually inappropriate comment” made during an event in late May 2025, which Bullard firmly denies. He argues that he was not provided with details about the allegation and characterizes his exit from the station as a forced resignation.

While Cumulus Media has not publicly responded to the lawsuit, Bullard has indicated plans to return to the airwaves on WANM-FM 90.5 and has hinted at potential opportunities with VIBE 106.1-FM.

Oyster Harvesting Considerations in Apalachicola Bay

In related news, Florida wildlife officials are contemplating the resumption of oyster harvesting in specific regions of Northwest Florida’s Apalachicola Bay. This decision comes more than a decade after the local oyster fishery struggled to recover from environmental and management challenges.

The discussions and planning for potential harvesting follow a legislative report indicating persistent difficulties faced by stakeholders in the fishing industry. The state government has been exploring ways to revive the bay after economic downturns affected both local fishermen and the broader community dependent on this natural resource.

Additional News Highlights

In other news, a recent report card from progressive organizations Progress Florida and Florida Watch has given failing grades to all Republicans and one Democrat regarding their voting records on issues affecting working families. Meanwhile, a shooting incident at Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia left five soldiers injured. The suspect, a 28-year-old Army sergeant, has been taken into custody.

On an economic note, President Donald Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on India, effective August 27, due to the country’s purchases of Russian oil. Additionally, the US stock markets closed positively, with the S&P 500 rising by 0.7%, the Dow increasing by 0.2%, and the Nasdaq gaining 1.2%.

Lastly, plans for a Buc-ee’s travel center in Tallahassee are eliciting mixed reactions among residents. The proposed 75,000-square-foot facility would feature 120 fuel pumps and could create around 200 jobs with salaries ranging from $16 to $32 per hour. The location for the new travel center is planned for the west side of Capital Circle Northwest, north of I-10.

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Joe Bullard Files Lawsuit Against Former Radio Station

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Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER

The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.

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