On Monday, a Barstool employee named “Mintzy” stirred controversy when he used the “n-word” in his show. On Wednesday, Barstool’s President Dave Portnoy revealed that the parent company, Penn Entertainment, forced them to fire Mintzy from his job. On his Friday program, radio host Todd Starnes discussed the issue and mentioned that Mintz had apologized profusely for accidentally rapping the lyrics containing the n-word.
“As soon as he said it, it was a slip, an accident, it just happened,” said Starnes. “It’s not like he was going out there and intentionally calling someone that word. So anyway, he apologized profusely. It’s really sad that you must do that amount of apology and remorse that one must conjure when using that word.”
Inquiring about today’s society, Todd Starnes questioned what the unforgivable sin might be. He expressed his belief that, contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t murder but rather the use of the n-word that was considered unforgivable.
“If you go out and plunge a knife into somebody over and over is that the unforgivable sin?” Starnes said. “Or is it using the n-word? I contend that the unforgivable sin in America is not going out and shooting someone; it’s actually uttering that word. Because when you utter that word, they will destroy you. There is no going back from that; there is no amount of apology that you can offer. Your life is over.”
During his show Wake Up With Mintzy, Mintz read rap lyrics from his phone and used the “n-word” as a component of the song. According to Portnoy, he, Barstool CEO Erika Nardini, and a notable company figure named Dan Katz (Barstool Big Cat) advocated for Mintz to retain his job. Despite their efforts, Penn Entertainment demanded that Barstool dismiss Mintz. Portnoy alleged that Penn executives were concerned about potential backlash from state governments.
Starnes likened the use of the n-word to a more heinous act than the 9/11 attacks.
“I’m calling it like it is,” added Starnes. “That is why on this program, I try to tell all of you, moms and dads, that you need to sit down with your white children and have the talk. One day, very soon, if they find out that you actually purchased a ticket to a concert where that word was uttered on the stage, they will come after you.”
