Morad El Ouakili was fired as radio DJ at BnnVara in the summer because he started working as a substitute for Luuk at RTL Boulevard. But why? “It was about norms and values.”
NPO Radio 2 DJ Morad El Ouakili was fired by BnnVara in the summer when he decided to fill in for Luuk Ikink at RTL Boulevard without permission. And that strict attitude was striking, because Bridget Maasland and Vivienne van den Assem also work for both RTL Boulevard and NPO Radio 2, although they do so under the flag of PowNed.
Morad out
How does Moral view this six months later? What was going on? “I had an agreement with BnnVara that I could do work for Boulevard. I was a music expert, but at one point Boulevard asked me to replace presenter Luuk Ikink during his holidays. So a bigger role,” he says A.D.
“I wanted to take that opportunity. Make no mistake, RTL Boulevard is an A-brand that is watched by a million people every day. I wanted to be part of that. I thought I could combine it, and I was also more visible to BNNVara. But BNNVara didn’t think it was a good idea. They wanted me exclusively.”
Norms and values
BnnVara also thinks RTL Boulevard is too poor, according to Morad. “They stated that the norms and values of RTL Boulevard do not fit the profile of BNNVara, where programs often have a message.”
“Apparently it was incompatible that, for example, Tim Hofman stands up for women who want to have an abortion and, on the other hand, Morad who, on behalf of RTL Boulevard, presents light-hearted lifestyle news. Well, Boulevard is more than that.”
Hurt
It’s all a bit crazy, because according to Bridget Maasland, RTL Boulevard is pretty much the Nieuwsuur of RTL. What did it do to Morad? “That hurt me, but I have made peace with it. I will also never forget that BNNVara gave me the opportunity on national radio.”
Now, like Bridget and Vivienne, he makes radio under the banner of PowNed. “It’s great that PowNed gave me that opportunity on the radio and I can also continue to do TV work on the side.”