After five years, A.J. and Free have left as hosts of BET's popular 106 & Park. The announcement came rather suddenly on Thursday July 28 when A.J. (with Free on the other end of a cell phone) announced that it was the last live show for the duo. A prerecorded show aired that Friday and BET personalities Tigger and Julissa hosted the show on Monday.
While BET executive Stephen Hill said that AJ and Free were "definitely not let go," it seems that their exit may have been hastened. A.J. told the Associated Press that the new head of programming was looking to "change the face of the network" and that he was only offered a brief contract extension. While Free has not publicly commented on the reasons for her departure, she had not appeared on 106 & Park for weeks before last Thursday's announcement. This also wasn't the first time where at least one of the hosts appeared to be gone. Last summer, A.J. took an extended break from the show which prompted rumors of his departure. He even briefly appeared as a correspondent on the entertainment show Extra during his absence. He eventually returned to 106 & Park. Earlier this year he left again for weeks to shoot a pilot for UPN.
The hosts are moving on from their stint on 106 & Park. A.J. plans to open a restaurant called Mahogany in Brooklyn this fall while Free said that she will be opening a website soon. No permanent hosts have been announced to replace them on 106 & Park.
Sources:
Free and AJ Leave "106 & Park" After Five Years - Vibe.com
Popular Hosts Out at BET Music Show '106' - AP via Yahoo
106 and Park Hosts Depart After 5 Years - BET.com
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Nashina
106 & Park will not be the same without them. How Free & AJ interact with each other was one of the reason that viewers stayed tuned. I loved to watch it also see what Free was wearing for that day.
I watched it Monday & was very disappointed. This change was not needed at all.
2 - Ashley
I was so hurt when I found out what was going on. When I saw Aj cry I started crying too. The only reason that I watched BET was for 106 & Park. I loved the way they worked together on the show and they stylish clothes that Free wore everyday. I also loved the way Aj was so layed back. They were the best hosts ever. No matter who they get in their place 106 & Park will never be the same.
3 - breanna vice
aj&free was the best host bet had past,present,and future no one can fill either one of thier shoes
4 - MARVIN
Sorry to see AJ and Free go...I liked tuning in to 106 & Park to see what kind of hair style Free was sporting and what she was wearing. I liked the fact that Free never dressed revealing but always sexy and classy...As a father of three girls...I thank you sister for displaying positivty. And letting young sisters know (by the way you carry yourself) that you do not have to show your body to be exsepted.
5 - John Bil
They will now be known as "AJ and Unemployed".
6 - C.J.
I think bet has changed dramatically, i think lossing AJ & Free was really sad, and stupid due to the fact they were the only show that bet had that was worth tuning into to see.
7 - MANTHA
WELL I HATE TO SEE FREE AND AJ GO BUT TO TELL U THE TRUTH NOW THAT A NEW PERSON IS SPONSORING NOBODY REALLY WATCH 106& PARK CAUSE IT IS NOT THE SAME I WISH FREE AND AJ COME BACK BECAUSE THEY MADE THE SHOW FUN AND MADE PEOPLE LAUGH AND FEEL GOOD BUT KNOW THEY ARE GONE THE SHOW IS VERY BORING AND EVERYBODY I TALK TO SAY THE DONT WATCH IT CAUSE FREE AND AJ OR GONE WELL JUST TO LET YALL KNOW WE WENT U BACK AJ AND FREE TO MAKE THE SHOW LIVE AND CRUNK AGAIN AND WE MIIS U!!!!!!!!!!!!1
8 - dpg
free is fine and i will miss her deeply with her thick self. HOLLA
9 - Richardson & Co.
The sudden departure of Aj and Free was very upsetting. Im wondering, who will be the next hosts to fill those shoes? Because the the heart of the show was the hosts ( Aj and Free)joking and playing with the guests and the audience. I look forward to the up coming direction of 106 & Park.
J.C. and D.R. CEO.
10 - free lover
now who am i going to jack off too
11 - Lisandra
I think that you should bring back the original host AJ and Free, because since AJ and Free been go it has not been the same, i am not saying boring because Julissa and Tigger is alright but the past hosts was PERFECT
12 - siera
weLl A.J and FREE were good host..i aint gonna cry cause they gone but i guess its exciting to see 106 & park permenent host.....well i cant say permenent cause BET likes to change their mind =D
13 - LEENA
I USE TO LOVE 106ANDPARK BUT NOW I DON'T BECAUSE IT BORING. JULISSA CAN'T FILL IN FREE ROLE. IT YALL GOING TO FILL IN FREE OR AJ ROLE MAKE SURE THAT THE HOST CAN INTERACT WITH GUESS BECAUSE JULISSA JUST CAN'T. JULISSA SHOULD STAY AT THE CENTER. NOW MY MAN TIGGER HE COOL BECAUSE I AM USE TO HIM BECAUSE HE WAS ON RAP CITY. SO IF HE BECOME THE HOST HE WILL FIT IN GOOD. AND IF YOU CAN'T FIND A GOOD HOST YOU NEED TO BEG FOR AJ AND FREE TO COME BACK . I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU LET THEM GO AND THE FIRST PLACE. I WAS HEARING THAT THEY WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THAT IS WROMG WITH OUR BLACK PEOPLE TODAY EVERY TIME WHEN A BLACK MAN AND WOMAN DOING SOMETHING POSSITIVE THEY WONT TO BE THING DOWN. BUT I HOPE THAT AJ AND FREE DON'T COMEBACK TO BET I HOPE ANOTHER CHANNEL TAKE THEM. I THOUGHT BET IS FOR BLACK PEOPLE I GUESS NOT.
14 - freelover
free should come back i dont relly care about aj but frees i the best loking girl ever she should come back i wish she was back that show is boreing now i love u free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
15 - ms davis
im hurt that a.j. and free are gone but some times they acted alittle to stupid and sexual harassment is big now and when he made advances to her and she rejected him that became out of hand and there is no time for silliness in black tv there is a time and places for everything people take issues serious now and u have to b careful what you say and do these days i wish them good wealth in the future
16 - JAMBAAZI
THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, THIS WAS THE LAND OF THE FREE. THE REAL REASON TO WHY THEY CHOOSE NOT TO COME BACK WILL NEVER BE UNVEILED. ONLY BET/AJ & FREE KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.I DO MISS THE DUO,BUT,I GOTTA BE SUPPORTIVE TO THEM. TO THAT I SAY GOOD LUCK IN UR FUTURE ENDEAVERS, IM SURE GIVEN UR PAST PERFOMANCE, U WILL PREVAIL. TO THE SHOW, I'M' GONNA BE HONEST. I WAS AN OCCASIONAL VIEWER TO BEGIN WITH. I WONDERED FOR ALONG TIME ABOUT THE MISSING DUO BUT I JUST NOW FOUND OUT, N I HAD TO GOOGLE IT. BIG TIGGER IS ALWAYS OFF THE CHAIN NO DISRESPECT AJ, AND TO HOME GIRL SHE IS CUTE. ALITTLE BONEY BUT HEY LET'S GIVE THEM A CHANCE. FOR EVERY ONE READING THIS, WHEN U WAKE UP TOMORROW MORNING, THE SUN WILL STILL RISE AS USUAL. LIFE GOES ON..........
17 - luisa
I cant believe it i just found out bout this cuz i was askin ma friends wat happened to aj and free and they said they quit or somethin and i was like wat but y did it happen so quickly i mean i knew aj was gonna quit some day cuz he always was absent but i neva thought both of them would actually leave after they had been hostin that show for so long but it was time for a change and julissa and tigger are really funny so theyll make great hosts for 106&park
18 - rose
I will always miss Free n Aj. they were so funny together. I hope to see ya'll two together again on 106 n park.
19 - latoya
WELL, SINCE IM OVER HERE IN IRAQ I REALLY THINK THAT I WAS THE LAST ONE TO HEAR ABOUT THIS STARTLING CHANGE. AJ AND FREE WERE GREAT HOSTS AND I ALSO LOVED TO SEE WHAT FREE WOULD WEAR EACH DAY. I DON'T CARE WHO THEY HIRE IN THE FUTURE, THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FILL AJ AND FREE'S SHOES. THEY JUST HAD THAT GREAT KIND OF CHEMISTRY TOGETHER THAT REALLY MADE THE SHOW SO SUCCESSFUL. I'LL MISS YOU AJ AND FREE!
20 - sandra
106 & park is not the same whithout FREE and AJ.Julissa is trying to hard and doesn't have any connection with the artists and crowd.
21 - Thonney
I can't beleive they're gone for real it is sucks 'cause i love them like they were my friends and yes the show is soooooooo boring without them it's not the same at all and i don,t watch it no more since august sooooooo please bring them back
Thonyne from Mtl (Canada)
22 - Lisa
Yall need to stop crying they're not coming back........GET OVER IT!!! Free was ugly and Aj looked like the preditor or somthing! Julissa and Tigger look normal.
23 - Martha
I was going to quit watching 106&park when I found out their leaving but I still love the show.
24 - Curtis
Free Was and IS the hottes thing to come to BET... There is not a man out there that has not stopped to say damn when thay cought a look at Free. But don't get it twistedin the last five years we have got to know that Free is more then just a hottie. She knows whats up and has always and will always keep it real. I wish her the best. To me today Free is that dream girl to bring home; with out all the drama.
As for AJ... AJ's AJ wish him the best!
25 - JAZY
I think that letin AJ and Free go was a stupid move. you probley lost over half of your viewers. If I where you I would go and BEG for them to come back.Good luck to AJ and Free.