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98.5 The Sports Hub afternoon host Tony Massarotti is under fire from listeners after using a racial slur against Asians during Felger & Mazz on Wednesday.
During the afternoon show, Massarotti was discussing his issues with Gen Z with co-host Mike Felger. He shared that he believes the Z stands for a slur directed at Asians that originated during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
The clip was shared on social media after it aired on both 98.5 The Sports Hub and NBC Sports Boston. Strong reactions from observers followed.
It is not the first time that Massarotti has been under the microscope for racially charged comments. In February of last year, the host told Felger that he should “be careful” around two black people while he was hosting the show from a New Orleans hotel because “the last time you were around a couple of guys like that, they stole your car.”
After a social media firestorm, Massarotti apologized the following day, stating his comments “were insensitive, hurtful, and frankly, they hurt the cause for those of us who believe in racial and social equality and all 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.”
He was subsequently suspended for the remainder of the week before returning the following Monday after the 2023 incident.
Neither Massarotti, nor 98.5 The Sports Hub, have commented publicly on the latest situation.
