A question asked by 98.5 The Sports Hub evening host Joe Murray during a Beasley Media Group corporate meeting was clowned on Toucher & Rich, leading to an uncomfortable on-air discussion between Murray and Rich Shertenlieb Tuesday.
According to Fred Toucher and Shertenlieb, Murray was late to a corporate Zoom meeting of on-air talents. After joining 25 minutes late, Murray asked the meeting’s leader if they could recap what he missed. He was told that wasn’t possible.
The morning show hosts joked about the question, which led to Murray fielding calls from listeners asking if he could recap what they had missed during his show.
Tuesday, Murray — who was hired to host nights on the station in June — called into Toucher & Rich to give his side of the story.
“I do think you twisted the story, absolutely,” Murray told Shertenlieb. “I really care about this job. That’s why I care about talking about this right now with you guys. But yeah, I don’t know if it went the way Rich says. I didn’t derail the meeting at all.”
“No, no, no. That’s not what happened,” Shertenlieb argued, before ultimately bringing in hosts from other stations to back up his claim. “You’re saying something didn’t happen that 161 people saw did happen.”
“I didn’t ask to start over. I’m not going to win this argument with you,” Murray said. “The reason why I’m calling is you guys said I’m lying about this. I’m not. I never called you guys liars. I don’t appreciate you guys playing something that was a corporate meeting as a bit. And I’m sorry my feelings are in the middle of the bit, here. I’m sorry my feelings are ruining your bit, I really am. But in my defense here, I should not be shamed for asking a question in a Zoom meeting.”
The pair disagreed about whether or not Murray asked for the entire meeting to start over again, before Murray argued he was being “publicly shamed for asking a question”.
“Oh, Joe. Come on. It was a funny story. It was something that’s not even that big of a deal,” countered Rich Shertenlieb. “I don’t know why you’re making a big deal. You asked a question, it was funny, everyone kinda went ‘Oh, boy’, and that was it. That was the end of it.”
“The reason why I care is because you don’t,” Murray shot back. “I care. I care about my job, I’d like to know what’s going on. I’m standing up for myself right now, and I don’t think I should be publicly shamed for asking a question in a company meeting.”
“Ok. Even if the question was ‘Can you start over in the 20 minutes everybody’s been sitting here waiting and do it all over again?’,” Rich Shertenlieb asked. “I’m sorry. I apologize. I thought it was a funny story. Everyone’s been in meetings before where people ask questions that are kind of crazy. I thought it was a funny story.”
“I feel like I publicly can’t ask questions in a meeting now,” retorted Murray.
“That’s not the worst thing in the world,” joked Fred Toucher. “In Zoom meetings, you probably shouldn’t ask questions.”
Murray continued by suggesting that he will be labeled “one of the spookiest characters” by Toucher & Rich this Halloween, which Rich Shertenlieb balked at.
“Joe, you’re not the victim here,” the morning host said. “Come on! There were 161 witnesses to what happened, and that’s why it was so funny, that you’d call us liars when there were so many people who saw what happened.”
“Again guys, I care about this, because it’s important to me,” Murray said. “I care.”
“Yeah, I know,” a dismissive Toucher replied, before giving Murray constructive criticism.
“Can I be honest with you? I know you just got the job, and I understand…just blow it off. The more it bothers you, the more people will just do it. How do I know? I’m an idiot. As you know, Joe, I’m an idiot. I am a moron who is far too sensitive — as you probably know — and I’ve let listeners get to me and turn it into something personal and something that it didn’t need to be. If someone calls in and screws around with you, just blow it off.”
A discussion ensued about whether or not the morning hosts were on “Team Joe”, which the pair pushed back on, saying the reason they were busting his chops was that they were fans of his.
Toucher joked that while Murray was concerned about his ability to ask questions in the corporate meeting, they will not be a determining factor in his career success.
Rich Shertenlieb concluded there was no animosity, saying the conversation “was really weird”. “I guess we can’t talk about Joe any more.”
