Breaking News: Tony Massarotti Apologizes After On-Air Racial Slur Sparks Backlash
Published: October 18, 2024 | Updated: 7:08 PM
Boston radio host Tony Massarotti, co-host of 98.5 The Sports Hub's "Felger & Mazz" show, issued an apology on Thursday after using a racial slur during Wednesday’s broadcast. The comment, made during a discussion on baseball’s Gold Glove Awards, has drawn widespread criticism on social media.
Massarotti explained that the derogatory term he used in reference to younger generations and their reliance on modern baseball metrics was not intended to offend. "I didn’t know that this term had a derogatory connotation, but I used it in reference to (Zo & Bertrand associate producer) Tyler Milliken and his Gen Z brethren," Massarotti said at the beginning of Thursday's show.
“I’ve since come to realize that the term has historical derogatory context. I had no idea, and for that, I sincerely apologize," he continued. "I can assure you that I had no intent behind it, and I won’t use it again on the air or off."
This is not the first time Massarotti has faced criticism for controversial remarks. In February 2023, he apologized for "insensitive" comments about two Black men seen behind his co-host, Michael Felger, during a remote broadcast from New Orleans The incident has reignited conversations about accountability in media, especially in the realm of sports broadcasting. Massarotti, a prominent voice in Boston sports radio, has pledged to be more cautious with his language moving forward.
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