Bubba's 'Spice Boy' Testifies About "Whore"

Bubba The Love Sponge Jury Hears More Questions About "Whore"

TAMPA, FL. -- Matthew Loyd, also known by his radio character name "Spice" or "Spice Boy" testified this morning as a plaintiff's witness in the 13th Judicial Circuit jury defamation trial of Todd "MJ" Schnitt vs. Bubba "The Love Sponge" Clem.

The jury trial is presiding under Honorable Circuit Judge James D. Arnold (pictured above while looking over exhibits)

Much of the questioning of Loyd this morning concerned the word "whore" and how it was used on the Bubba Clem radio show when used describing radio host MJ Schnitt's wife.

Loyd told the court he started as an intern for the Bubba Clem radio show in 1997 and then continued working on the show until last year when he started his own evening FM radio talk show in Tampa.

He says the Bubba The Love Sponge radio show "matured" over the years, explaining there were more "girls" on the show in 1998 and went on to say in 2008 the show engaged in radio "wars," including impromptu talk about Todd "MJ" Schnitt and wife Michelle Schnitt.

Plaintiff's attorney played several radio clips from the show where Clem reportedly called Mrs. Schnitt "a whore." The clip actually refers to Schnitt's "wife" and not specifically to her by her name. The various audio clips have been played to different court witnesses about a dozen times before the jury so far.

Loyd says the term "whore" was used as "a general term" and meant to "disrespect" but not to the level later taken. "It was just funny," he said.

Loyd said on-air four years ago three people had contacted him about embarrassing information regarding Mrs. Schnitt. In court, he said he didn't really have any special information and just made the statement up.

Defendant's counsel on cross-examination asked Loyd if there were any particular radio competition the Bubba show was aiming for. Loyd indicated it was the MJ radio show, since it was rated number one.

He testified Mrs. Schnitt was part of the MJ show but he didn't know how to answer whether Bubba Clem was targeting her personally as part of the radio war.

This week the trial is taking place daily for the next two weeks in a new courtroom. Plaintiff Todd Schnitt is now closest to the court camera, while Bubba Clem was seated nearest it last week.

Update - Brent Hatley Testifies: After a short morning recess, the court resumed with Bubba show cast member and side-kick Brent Hatley called to the witness stand, answering questions about the radio show's ratings and listener numbers.

Shaven-headed, bespeckled Hatley calmly answered questions saying the show had about 400,000 weekly listeners. (Later comments in cross-examination by Clem's attorney Joseph Diaco, Jr. indicated the average listenership each 15 minutes would be more like 12,000.) Hatley said the goal of having Bubba fans "booing" at Schnitt's personal appearance promotions was "comedy" not intimidation. And again more Bubba show audio clips repeated again for the jury.

Audio clips were again played where Clem's radio guests and crew may have insinuated Schnitt may have "fixed" a national radio contest and how he might have used "plugola," mentioning products to gain benefits to a Corvette purchase and from a computer store. Hatley denied the clips indicated that Schnitt was guilty of anything improper.

Both Loyd and Hatley, as witnesses for the Plaintiff have not able to listen to or read any news about the trial prior to their court testimony. Until they are dismissed by the Judge as witnesses, they will have to refrain from discussing the trial or hearing anything about other's testimony.

Photo credit: 13th Judicial Circuit/Fox 13 Tampa Bay