*Bumped*

[Originally posted Dec. 22, 2008]

Earlier today I spoke with popular radio personality Porsche Foxx who reached out to Sandrarose.com to talk about her very successful coat and toy drive, which I will get to in a minute.

Porsche didn’t want to discuss her reasons behind her controversial exit from V-103, but I persisted by asking the right questions.

Porsche Foxx’s departure from V-103 came to light when her boss Reggie Rouse sent out an email announcing her termination from the “People’s station.” The email was forwarded to people outside the station who had no business reading it, and that sparked wild rumors which Porsche says are unfounded.

On Thursday and Friday of last week, Porsche joined Elizabeth Omilami of Hosea Williams Feed the Hungry and Homeless to hold her 9th Annual Porsche Foxx Community Force Coat & Toy Drive at the Kroger at 6055 Old National hwy.

Over 1800 coats and toys were collected to benefit the Hosea Williams Feed the Hungry and Homeless Program. This is the first year that Porsche held her coat drive without the support and reach of V-103.

Porsche was very emotional as she talked about her former listeners who stopped by and took the time to donate toys and coats especially in a spiraling economy when they can barely make ends meet themselves.

“I really appreciate the people coming out and supporting me and giving,” she said. “We’re in a recession. It really brought tears to my eyes. A lady came up to me and said, ‘hey, I lost my job and I don’t know what I’m going to do for my kids for Christmas but we want to give you coats’. And that just really warmed my heart because I feel like most of the people who gave are really experiencing hard times themselves. That’s why I think this year’s coat and toy drive probably spoke the loudest out of all of them. God has been good. I really want to send a big thank you to Miss Scott and Miss Whipple in community affairs at Kroger and the entire Kroger staff.”

In response to my endless questions about the drama that went on at V-103, Porsche sighed and said emphatically, “You know, if anybody read the AJC, drugs or alcohol had nothing to do with this! Absolutely nothing! I think it was a matter of each of us wanting to go in a different direction. I’ve never been one to chase rumors because, in that case, I would spend all of my time trying to address rumors. I really appreciate all of my fans. They kept me number one in a city this size. That really says a lot!”

In a very revealing and emotional moment, Porsche said she found a lump in her left breast last month. “Anybody who experiences that and you don’t know what it is, it’s challenging.” Porsche said she found solace and comfort in the words of former WSB Anchor Jacquita Williams, who also found a lump in her breast and successfully completed chemotherapy treatments.

“I want to thank Jacquita for her encouraging and strengthening words. Thank God the lump is benign, but I will have it removed on January 26th.”

Porsche said the ordeal of the diagnostic testing and multiple doctor visits wore on her emotionally and mentally. But she never let on to her V-103 family about her cancer scare. She revealed the news only to close personal friends and family.

Still, she said a conflict arose when station management [Rick Caffey] asked her to cancel one of her doctor’s appointments and she refused. Porsche said the station was not supportive of her during that time.

But she defended the program director, Reggie Rouse, with whom she said she shared a good working relationship.

Porsche indicated that Caffey’s request to cancel her appointment was the last straw.

“That was the biggest conflict with V-103 and I,” Porsche said. “It was part of the procedure to schedule to have [the lump] removed and I refused to cancel it.”

Porsche said the conflict with station management over her doctor appointment was around the time she was let go from V-103. She said there was no indication of problems leading up to her dismissal from the station.

“We had a conversation and that led to us deciding to go in different directions. But that was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me!”

Porsche said she didn’t want to dwell on the negative. She asked everyone to keep her in their Prayers when she goes in to have her lump removed on Jan. 26. “I want to encourage women to continue their breast exams because that’s how I found it — in the shower. I wasn’t even thinking about stuff like that!,” she said. “Women don’t need to wait until their 40 and 50 to start thinking. That was a old myth.”

Porsche alluded to the fact that she might be back on the air in this market very soon: “I’m excited about the many opportunities that are presented to me,” she said. “I’m excited about what I do. I’m passionate about what I do and I am committed to the community. I even expect to venture into TV. That’s what I love to do!”