An iHeartRadio Talent Is Focus Of Alleged Threat

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The local air personality who holds the Noon-6pm shift on an iHeartMedia-owned hip-hop and R&B station serving the Panama City Beach, Fla., market, has contacted local police after an alleged threat was received via social media.


DJ Big Boi, who is African American, and the threat: being hanged.

That’s according to the Gannett-owned Panama City News Herald, which reports the air personality, legally known as David Barnes, is pursuing legal action against a man who allegedly made the threat.

It was delivered to D.J. Big Boi in a June 30 Facebook comment.

It stated:

That’s why y’all ancestors got hung on my grandfather’s apple tree and soon it will happen to you as well.

“At first, I kind of dismissed it,” the air talent at WEBZ-FM “99.3 The Beat” told the newspaper. “I looked at it again and said this is something that needs to be taken with action and not taken lightly.”

After speaking with Bay County, Fla., sheriff’s representatives, he learned the threat is a second-degree felony in the Sunshine State.

“Once I felt that (law enforcement) was going to pursue it, I felt a tad bit safer than what I did,” Barnes said to the newspaper. Yet, he added, “I still move with caution.”

The sheriff’s office confirmed Thursday the case is currently under investigation and is being reviewed by the State Attorney’s Office.