The popular Chicago radio host Eric Ferguson was accused of coercing the former assistant producer of his show, Eric In The Morning, into performing sexual favors, according to the lawsuit. The former assistant staff, Cynthia DeNicolo, filed the lawsuit in Cook County in early May of 2021 after one year of being fired from The Mix.
DeNicolo was fired in May 2020 along with 11 other staff from the Station known as The Mix. Cynthia had worked with them for about 16 years and used to screened callers, booked interviews, and sometimes joined on Ferguson on air.
Cunthia accused Eric of abusing his powers and coerced her to perform oral sex on him about twice a month between January and August of 2004 and babysit his children for almost a decade having her known as “Eric’s babysitter” in her workplace.
As per the lawsuit's statement, Ferguson used code words to communicate his unwanted demands for oral sex. He would demand a backrub from DeNicolo. This coerced sexual activity typically occurred after a company-sponsored work event or after the workday in DeNicolo’s apartment.
Ferguson was unable to reach, and his lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit last month and alleged that it appeared to be intended to smear the defendant’s reputation.
According to lawsuits, Ferguson told DeNicolo, “we need to circle the wagons and get our stories straight” and suggested she “stay silent and to deny any allegations by other woman that Ferguson had engaged in inappropriate behavior.”
Further lawsuits stated, “Ferguson’s demands for Oral sex were abusive power plays by the man that had all the power over DeNicolo’s career.” The lawsuit said, “There was no romance , affection, or dignity associated with Ferguson’s demands for oral sex.” The lawsuit alleged Ferguson caused DeNicolo to get promotions from her work as she summoned the courage to end a sexual relationship in 2004 and finally got her fired in 2020 using COVID-19 as a pretext.
The market manager of Hubbard Chicago said in an investigation about the case done by an internal and independent external agent, no evidence to corroborate allegations of illegal workplace conduct was found.
Recently second woman, Kristen Mori, a former sales employee who left in 2004, came forward with the allegations against Eric. According to Mori, Eric groped her at the Christmas party of the Station in 2003. At the party, her husband and other co-workers were present.
She even alleged the company for turning a blind eye to Eric's misbehaves and offensive conduct.
Who Is Eric Ferguson? Career Insights
The host of a popular show on WTMX-FM, Eric Ferguson, has a real name David Eric Ferguson born on 27 January 1967. He is originally from Elburn, Illinois, and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1989.
Radio personality Eric Ferguson started his radio career in 1989, having evening shifts at WHXT/Allentown and morning shows at WPXR/Rock Island, WZOK/Rockford, and KWMX/Denver.
He is one of the cohosts of 101.9WTMX’s popular show, The Eric and Kathy Show. The show brought laughs, insights, pop culture, and friendly banter to the audience who wanted to start off their day with some sparks and smiles, which is hosted by Elburn native Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart. This show takes first place among adults from ages 25 to 54.
The show included combinations of music, conversations with listeners, interviews with celebrity guests, studio musical performances, and discussions of personal relationships and life decisions. The show managed to cover some edgy matter presented with enough humor to entertain audiences of all ages. WTMX/Chicago brought the two hosts when they were veterans in 1996 to host the Station’s famous show that became one of the Chicago radio’s top-rated shows within three years of its debut.
The two hosts were even inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2016.
However, Kathy was not heard alongside cohost Eric Ferguson since late- April of 2017 and finally broke her silence the same year in August.
To everyone who has reached out with concern and support these last few months, I want to say a very sincere thank you. As open as we’ve always been on the show, it was certainly uncharacteristic to not explain my absence . . . and even more uncharacteristic for me to be silent for this long.
I trust from the many years of our connection, you will support and respect the personal nature of why I have been off the air.
It has been challenging, mentally and physically, to be away for this long, especially on days like Friday for the live broadcast from Lurie Children’s for “Eric & Kathy’s Kids.” I’ve always admired how E&K listeners come together to love and support these kids and their families. It’s also a great reminder that health and family should never be taken for granted and always come first, no matter what.
I have always considered the Mix and our listeners as family, and want to express my infinite gratitude to everyone who has reached out to me personally and supported me publicly. Please stay tuned as I fully intend to be back on the air!
Eric was married to Jennifer Ferguson and shared four children. The couple got divorced in 2020
Eric Ferguson and his wife, Jen, had bought an 8,270 square foot mansion in Hinsdale for $3.07 million in August 2012 from its builder, J.Jordan Homes. The mansion had 16 rooms, eight bathrooms, a limestone fireplace in the family room, and hardwood floors. It was reported that Eric and his wife sold their French country-style mansion in May of 2020 at a loss of $2.9 million.