Massarotti suspended for ‘racist’ comment on Sports Hub
Sports Hub talk show host Tony Massarotti has been suspended for the rest of the week for his “insensitive” and “hurtful” comment about Black people sitting behind his 98.5 cohost Mike Felger.
“Mazz will not be joining us today,” Felger said at the start of Tuesday’s “Felger and Mazz” show, a day after Massarotti apologized for his remark about the Black people behind his 98.5 co-host.
Massarotti has been suspended for the rest of the week without pay.
“Because Beasley Media strives to create a diverse and inclusive workplace, and these comments went against its core values, the company has decided to suspend Tony for the rest of the week without pay,” Felger said.
Also, all of the on-air
Beasley employees in the Boston-area will be taking sensitivity training.
Felger on Friday was broadcasting remotely from New Orleans, where his daughter attends college. The loud and animated talk show host was doing the show in a hotel business service center where people log onto computers, and two Black individuals were sitting behind Felger at the time.
“Yeah, I want to know now who the two guys behind you are, that’s what I want to know. Because if I were you …” Massarotti said, as Felger told the guys behind him that he’d be off the air in 2 minutes.
“… They can’t hear us, right?” Massarotti then asked Felger, who said the people couldn’t hear the hosts broadcasting from Waltham. “OK, so I would be careful if I were you because the last time you were around a couple of guys like that, they stole your car.”
As Massarotti started to crack up following his comment, Felger quickly moved on to the next caller.
During a previous trip to New Orleans, Felger had borrowed his parents’ car for a night out downtown. He had parked the car at a street corner to see if he could get into a show, but he left the keys in the car and a thief stole it.
Massarotti addressed his remarks at the start of Monday’s show.
“I made some comments that angered and upset some people, and rightfully so,” Massarotti said at the start of his apology. “I wish I could take them back. I can’t. They were insensitive, they were hurtful, and frankly they hurt the cause for those of us who believe in racial and social equality and all of those things. And I do, I’m on that side of the line.”
“I owe everyone an apology,” the Herald alum said. “It’s not who I am. It’s not who we are.”
Ahead of his suspension, The New Democracy Coalition of Massachusetts was calling on the station to suspend Massarotti, and disclose its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices.
“The statement made by Mr. Massarotti may have been made in innocence, but it was highly insensitive,” said Rev. Kevin Peterson, founder of the New Democracy Coalition. “It was a racist remark. It is appalling that those facing the public in the way he does are not aware of how incendiary the issues of racism remain in Boston.
“His apology should be accepted,” he added. “But he and his station must do more than respond to this issue beyond mere lip service. Changed policies related to racial relations and intense and sincere community outreach is imperative.”