Sports radio host apologizes for racist comment

One day after coming under fire for using an anti-Asian slur during Wednesday’s episode of Felger & Mazz , Boston radio host Tony Massarotti has apologized, stating he was unaware that the term was offensive.

“During yesterday’s show, while we were discussing baseball’s Gold Glove Awards, the voting and the data that went into it, I made reference to [98.5 The Sports Hub producer] Tyler Milliken and people his age and their reliance on some of the metrics and how I didn’t believe in them,” Massarotti said. “And in so doing, I used a derogatory term that was unbeknownst to me. I didn’t know this term had a derogatory connotation. But I used it in reference to Milliken and his Gen-Z brethren, for lack of a better term.

“I have since come to the realization that, historically, there is some derogatory context for that term, which I assure you, I did not know. Nonetheless, in so doing, if you are among those who I offended, I apologize for that. It was not my intent, I can assure you of that. I had no idea that the word had that meaning. As such, I won’t use it again. You’ll never hear me use it again on the air or off. And I don’t know what else to say. There was no intent behind it is all I can tell you and I apologize again to those who are offended.”

As he alluded to, Massarotti’s offending comment came as he poked fun at Milliken and Gen-Z during Wednesday’s episode.

“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.’”

The Committee of 100 promotes issues impacting the Chinese-American community and lists “Zipperhead” in its glossary of anti-Asian terms and tropes , referring to the slur as a “condescending term used to describe individuals of Asian descent,” while noting that it “groups all people of Asian descent into one group and portrays them as both weak and dangerous at the same time.” Use of the derogatory term dates back to the Korean and Vietnam wars.

While there wasn’t anything in the context of the clip to indicate that Massarotti knew he was saying a racial slur, it’s worth noting that he was suspended without pay last year for making a racially insensitive comment while on air. It’s unclear whether he’ll face any consequences from 98.5 The Sports Hub as a result of this week’s incident, although the fact he was on air Thursday seemingly indicates he won’t.

[ The Kirk Minihane Show on X ]

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