A recent book examining the career of radio personality Howard Stern highlights the lasting impact of the shock-jock’s controversial on-air behavior, revealing the perspectives of former guests and collaborators who have since expressed regret and discomfort.
Nicole Eggert, known for her role on the television series "Baywatch," recounted her experience during a 1995 interview on Stern’s show in which the host criticized her choice of attire and demanded she wear a bikini. Speaking to author Greg Prato for the book *The Great American Nightmare: An Oral History of the ‘Howard Stern Show,’* Eggert described feeling pressured to comply despite her unease. She said she was “very programmed” to maintain composure and allow the remarks to pass, largely due to the show’s dominant ratings and concerns about management reaction if she declined to appear. Eggert also described the studio environment as unsafe, noting that replaying past footage revealed widespread mistreatment of women on the program. Reflecting on her own interview years later, she expressed regret over the experience but maintained pride in her decision not to wear a bikini during the segment.
The book also includes comments from Chaunce Hayden, a former member of Stern’s show, who expressed remorse regarding one of their more controversial moments. Hayden recalled the 1995 on-air memorial for Debbie Tray, a fan who died of a drug overdose, during which he brought her ashes to the studio. Hayden recounted Stern removing bone fragments from the container and making jokes about them live on air. This segment prompted an $8 million lawsuit from Debbie Tray’s family against Hayden, Stern, and Infinity Broadcasting. The case was settled out of court, although details of the settlement were not publicly disclosed. Hayden called the incident “terrible” and conveyed his regret for participating in it.
Despite criticisms and controversies, Stern continues to command significant earnings, reportedly making approximately $8,000 per minute on air. However, recent reports indicate he has reduced show time and laid off staff, moves that have drawn further scrutiny. Attempts to obtain a comment from Stern’s management were unsuccessful.