Polaris Music Prize removes former host Jian Ghomeshi from its jury

TORONTO – The Polaris Music Prize has removed former host Jian Ghomeshi from its jury.

Ghomeshi had been among the 200-plus journalists, broadcasters and bloggers who annually vote on the $30,000 award, given to the best Canadian album of the previous year.

The 47-year-old has a history with the gala. He hosted the inaugural bash in 2006, presented a performance by K’naan in ’09 and served on the Polaris’s 10-person grand jury in 2010, when Karkwa won the prize.

A representative for the Polaris confirmed to The Canadian Press that Ghomeshi was no longer on its jury but didn’t provide a reason for the decision.

The former host of “Q” was let go by the CBC last month. Ghomeshi has said he was fired because of the risk that his sex life would become public “as a result of a campaign of false allegations” motivated by his “sexual behaviour.” He has since launched a lawsuit against the public broadcaster.

The radio personality has said he has engaged in rough sex, but that it was always consensual.

As many as nine women have alleged in media reports that they experienced “abusive behaviour” by Ghomeshi. The radio host has vowed to meet the allegations “directly.”

Toronto police have launched an investigation after three women came forward with accusations.

Former Polaris winner Owen Pallett spoke out against Ghomeshi in a blog posting, while a petition supporting Ghomeshi’s alleged victims has garnered the support of several Polaris-nominated musicians, including Bry Webb and Austra’s Katie Stelmanis.