Sports Hub speak present host Tony Massarotti has been suspended for the remainder of the week for his “insensitive” and “hurtful” remark about Black individuals sitting behind his 98.5 co-host Mike Felger.
“Mazz will not be joining us today,” Felger mentioned in the beginning of Tuesday’s “Felger and Mazz” present, a day after Massarotti apologized for his comment in regards to the Black individuals behind his 98.5 co-host.
Massarotti has been suspended for the remainder of the week with out 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 mentioned.
Also, all the on-air Beasley workers within the Boston-area will probably be taking sensitivity coaching.
Felger on Friday was broadcasting remotely from New Orleans, the place his daughter attends school. The loud and animated speak present host was doing the present in a resort enterprise service heart the place individuals log onto computer systems, and two Black people have been sitting behind Felger on 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 mentioned, as Felger instructed the blokes behind him that he’d be off the air in 2 minutes.
“… They can’t hear us, right?” Massarotti then requested Felger, who mentioned the individuals 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 began to crack up following his remark, Felger rapidly moved on to the subsequent caller.
During a earlier journey to New Orleans, Felger had borrowed his mother and father’ automobile for an evening out downtown. He had parked the automobile at a road nook to see if he might get right into a present, however he left the keys within the automobile and a thief stole it.
Massarotti addressed his remarks in the beginning of Monday’s present.
“I made some comments that angered and upset some people, and rightfully so,” Massarotti mentioned in the beginning 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 mentioned. “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 98.5 to droop Massarotti, and for 98.5 to reveal its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices.
“The statement made by Mr. Massarotti may have been made in innocence, but it was highly insensitive,” mentioned Rev. Kevin Peterson, founding father of the New Democracy Coalition. “It was a racist comment. It is appalling that these going through the general public in the way in which he does should not conscious of how incendiary the problems of racism stay 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.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”