Kentucky Sports Radio's Matt Jones Loses TV Job Over His Upcoming Book Criticizing Mitch McConnell

Jones (Photo: WLEX-TV)

Regionally-syndicated "KENTUCKY SPORTS RADIO" host MATT JONES, who was previously pulled from his TV show on NBC affiliate WLEX-TV (LEX 18)/LEXINGTON, KY while he considered running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Senate Majority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY) in 2020, has now been permanently removed from the TV show after announcing a book criticizing MCCONNELL, reports the LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL.

JONES was put on a leave of absence from LEX 18's "HEY KENTUCKY!" in JULY while he considered running for office, but announced last week that he was writing a book, "MITCH, PLEASE! HOW MITCH MCCONNELL SOLD OUT KENTUCKY (AND AMERICA TOO)," to be released in 2020. On FRIDAY, JONES tweeted that the TV station has decided to drop him as the show's host, saying he "disagree(s) strongly" with the move; late SUNDAY, JONES retweeted a post from THE INTERCEPT's RYAN GRIM with a link to that site's article alleging that it was the campaign manager for JONES' potential rival for the Democratic nomination for Senate, AMY MCGRATH, who prevailed upon LEX 18 to fire JONES from the TV show.

Today WLEX made the decision to end my time as host of @hey_kentucky due my decision to write the “Mitch, Please” book.

I disagree strongly with this decision but it is what it is. I will continue to pursue my passions and beliefs, regardless of the result

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) August 16, 2019

This is disappointing, but unfortunately not surprising https://t.co/fGYM5rS1vf

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) August 18, 2019

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