A Prairie Home Companion' host Garrison Keillor fired over alleged inappropriate behavior

Minnesota Public Radio fired on-air personality Garrison Keillor on Wednesday for allegedly inappropriate behavior, according to a statement by MPR.

What did MPR say?

A portion of MPR's statement stated: "Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is terminating its contracts with Garrison Keillor and his private media companies after recently learning of allegations of his inappropriate behavior with an individual who worked with him."

"Last month, MPR was notified of the allegations which relate to Mr. Keillor's conduct while he was responsible for the production of 'A Prairie Home Companion' (APHC)," the statement continued, and noted that a special board committee was appointed to "provide oversight" and "ongoing counsel."

"In addition, MPR retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation of the allegations," the statement added. "Based on what we currently know, there are no similar allegations involving other staff."

MPR revealed that the investigation into the alleged incident is still ongoing.

Has Keillor said anything about the firing?

Keillor reportedly told The Associated Press of his firing shortly before MPR issued its statement.

BREAKING: Garrison Keillor says he's been fired by Minnesota Public Radio over allegations of inappropriate behavior.

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 29, 2017

Keillor later told the AP that he was fired over "a story that I think is more interesting and more complicated than the version MPR heard."

He later admitted to putting his hands on a woman's bare back.

Keillor told the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Wednesday: "I put my hand on a woman’s bare back. I meant to pat her back after she told me about her unhappiness and her shirt was open and my hand went up it about six inches. She recoiled."

"I sent her an email of apology later and she replied that she had forgiven me and not to think about it," he added. "We were friends. We continued to be friendly right up until her lawyer called."

Keillor said that his firing was "poetic irony of a high order."

"If I had a dollar for every woman who asked to take a selfie with me and who slipped an arm around me and let it drift down below the beltline, I’d have at least a hundred dollars. So this is a poetic irony of a high order,” Keillor said.

"Getting fired is a real distinction in broadcasting, and I’ve waited 50 years for the honor," Keillor said. "All of my heroes got fired. I only wish it could’ve been for something more heroic."

Keillor added, "Anyone who ever was around my show can tell you that I was the least physically affectionate person in the building. Actors hug, musicians hug, people were embracing every Saturday night left and right, and I stood off in the corner like a stone statue."