Boston Sports Radio Host Under Fire For Using Racial Slur On-Air
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A Boston-area sports radio host is facing heavy criticism after his use of a racial slur live on air.
Tony Massarotti appeared on 98.5's Felger & Mazz on Wednesday, and a joke about a producer's age turned into a shocking moment during the broadcast.
The 56-year-old Massarotti referred to his younger co-worker Tyler Milliken, who is a producer for the radio station.
"I was having a discussion with Milliken before the show," Massarotti said.
"Gen-Z, which I've determined, incidentally, that the 'Z' stands for 'zipperhead.'"
— Dave Cullinane (@davecullinane) October 16, 2024
The word has been used as a derogatory term for Asian people dating back to the Korean and Vietnam wars, with one advocacy group calling it a "condescending term used to describe individuals of Asian descent."
That same group, The Committee of 100, says that the term "groups all people of Asian descent into one group and portrays them as both weak and dangerous at the same time."
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time Massarotti has made comments that could be considered racially insensitive on the air.
Last year, he commented on two Black men who were sitting behind a co-host doing the show remotely at a hotel.
"I wanna know now who the two guys behind you are," he told his co-host.
"Because if I were you… They can't hear us, right? Okay, 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."
— Dave Cullinane (@davecullinane) February 18, 2023
Massarotti apologized for that joke and was suspended without pay for the remainder of the week.
"Okay, so, as you said late in the show on Friday, I made some comments that angered and upset some people," he said last year.
"And rightfully so. So, 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, which is what made this thing so difficult in so many different ways."
We'll see if Massarotti issues another apology for his comments, and if 98.5 decides to discipline him internally.
Related: Stephen A. Smith Calls Out Barack Obama For 'Unacceptable' Comment
