Inside Jerry Springer’s career-changing 1974 sex scandal amid iconic host’s death at 79
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Jerry Springer, a TV-influential personality was in the show-biz for decades, but not many know that he had a promising political career before making it on the screen. The 79-year-old who died after a brief illness and fighting cancer was rocked by a sex scandal that ultimately shaped him as an individual. While serving in the city council in Cincinnati, Springer, then 30, ultimately resigned and admitted to the wrongdoing, "When I resigned yesterday, I did so because I believed then as I believe now that there are some problems which are better faced as a private citizen", he said.
Earlier, it was Enquirer that wrote the piece on him without using his name to break the sex scandal, a "well-known Cincinnati political family" was involved in paid sex at a brothel using checks. Though he resigned, Springer was disappointed with the council that decided unanimously to accept his resignation. As per Cincinnati’s WCPO, Springer said in 1977, "I'm not going to beg. What I did was wrong, but I still have a certain amount of pride and self-respect left. I loved my work. It was my life. But I committed a serious indiscretion, to my way of thinking, and I guess I must pay for it now dearly."
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'I spent time with a woman I shouldn't have'
He was indicted back the next year in the council after winning his seat. Springer even went on to become the mayor of Cincinnati, and in one of his ad campaigns, he addressed the issue. "Nine years ago I spent time with a woman I shouldn't have. And I paid her with a check. I wish I hadn't done that. And the truth is, I wish no one would ever know. But in the rough world of politics, opponents are not about to let personal embarrassments lay to rest," he said as per New York Times. Springer later switched to television and successfully ran ‘The Jerry Springer Show’ for record 27 seasons.
'I decided, no, I'm staying put'
During his final broadcast in 2018, he reflected, "In political terms as well as a human here in Cincinnati, I was dead. But then, in probably the luckiest decision I ever made, I decided, no, I'm staying put,” he said. “You see, I selfishly did not want there to be any place in America where I couldn't go — where I couldn't one day with children or grandchildren return, barred by some shame and scandal. No, if I were going to beat it, I would beat it where it happened — right here in River City. And so it became an obsession," Springer told one of the audience, as per People.
