Bubba the Love Sponge

Bubba the Love Sponge
2013 Promotional Image
Born	Todd Alan Clem (1966-04-23) April 23, 1966 Warsaw, Indiana
Occupation	Radio personality, producer, actor
Years active	1985–present
Website	http://www.btls.com http://www.bubbaarmy.com

Bubba the Love Sponge Clem (born Todd Alan Clem,^[1] April 23, 1966) is the host of The Bubba the Love Sponge Show.^[2]

Early career

Clem, a native of Warsaw, Indiana, began his radio career on Indiana State University's WISU-FM. Following school, one of his first paying jobs in radio was at WGRD in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he worked evenings.

On December 20, 1988, a 13-year-old-girl listening to the show called Clem. Clem made sexual references to Danny Czekalinski, his crosstown competitor, and to the 13-year-old female caller and was fired the next day.^[3][4] Clem then worked for a brief period WLUM-FM in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. By 1999, Clem had legally changed his name to “Bubba the Love Sponge.”^[1]

Hog incident and the FCC

On February 27, 2001, while on the air at WXTB in Tampa, Florida, Clem slaughtered and barbecued a wild Florida boar that had been captured by a professional hunter. Sound effects of hogs feeding were broadcast to lead listeners to believe the hog was being harassed and aggravated. Based on the incident Clem, his Executive Producer Brent Hatley, and two other people were charged with animal cruelty.^[5] The trial received coverage outside Florida including Court TV. All four defendants were acquitted by the jury.^[6]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Notice of Apparent Liability (a precursor to a fine) of $755,000 against four stations owned by Clear Channel Communications (including its parent station, WXTB) on January 27, 2004 for objectionable segments of "Bubba the Love Sponge". The fine consisted of the maximum of $27,500 for each of 26 airings of a segment plus $40,000 for record-keeping violations. The segments included graphic discussions about sex and drugs and according to the FCC were "designed to pander to, titillate and shock listeners". One segment featured the cartoon characters Alvin and the Chipmunks, George Jetson and Scooby-Doo discussing sexual activities.^[7]

Clear Channel Communications discontinued Clem's show on February 23, 2004 and two days later, Clear Channel CEO John Hogan testified in front of Congress, stating that the "Bubba the Love Sponge" show would no longer be broadcast on Clear Channel.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

On January 3, 2010, Bubba announced via his Twitter account that he had signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a backstage interviewer.^[8][9] He made his debut the following day on the special live, three-hour, Monday night edition of TNA Impact!, participating in four short backstage segments.^[10]

On January 16, 2010, Clem made remarks on his Twitter account that were disparaging of Haiti's struggle to recover from the January 12 earthquake. Although he later apologized, his tweets created a rift between himself and TNA management, and for a while he was not used by the company on their television broadcast.^[11]

On January 19, 2010, Clem claimed that he had been blind-sided and physically assaulted by Awesome Kong while backstage for the taping of TNA Impact! the previous day, claims which were substantiated on his program by TNA's Hulk Hogan. According to all three, the altercation was a result of the Twitter comments made by Clem concerning the Haiti relief project.^[12][13] On February 25, Clem announced that he was finished working with TNA Wrestling. That same day, news broke that Awesome Kong had filed a lawsuit against Clem for an alleged threatening phone call.^[14] Later on The Cowhead Show, Clem confronted Stevens, allegedly using racially charged comments.^[15]

Clem returned to TNA television as the personal interviewer of wrestling stable, The Band, in late March,^[16] only to be fired from the company on April 30, 2010 stemming from the Cowhead Show incident.^[17]

Personal life

Clem has been married twice, most recently to Heather Clem (née Cole) on January 14, 2007 at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg, Florida.^[18] He filed for divorce from Heather on September 15, 2011.^[19]

He owns a charitable organization named the BTLS Foundation. The foundation's main goal is to give back to the community by supporting the families of law enforcement officers who have lost their lives through the line of duty. BTLS Foundation routinely gives back over 80% of revenue as direct grants.^[20]

Hulk Hogan sex tape

In early 2012, it was reported that Clem had filmed his then-wife Heather Clem and Hulk Hogan having sex in his bedroom. On October 4, 2012, Gawker released a short clip of the video.^[21] In this video, Clem can be heard saying that the couple can "do their thing" and he will be in his office. Furthermore, at the end of the video, Clem can also be heard telling Heather, "If we ever need to retire, here is our ticket".^[22] Hogan filed a lawsuit against Clem and his now ex-wife for invading his privacy on October 15, 2012 .^[23] Hogan later settled the lawsuit on October 29, 2012.^[24] Following the settlement, Clem also publicly apologized to Hogan.^[25]

Racism controversy

In August 2013 an audiotape was released on YouTube of Clem voicing a commercial for Vermont Teddy Bear. In this commercial Clem is heard saying many remarks, which he told WTSP were just meant to be comical outtakes.^[26] Clem's company, Bubba Radio Network, ordered the removal of the video from YouTube, although it is now hosted on TMZ.^[27]

Ratings tampering

Clem is being sued by Nielsen for $1 million over allegations of tampering with the ratings system by attempting to influence the listening habits of several Nielsen panelists. Clem admitted to influencing the habits of one panelist, but Nielsen claimed he influenced several panelists. Clem's lawyer filed a motion asking that Nielsen's lawsuit be dismissed. ^[28]

References