Tony Massarotti, a longtime co-host of the popular afternoon radio show “Felger & Mazz” on 98.5 The Sports Hub, has been suspended without pay for comments he made on air last week that was “insensitive” and “hurtful.”
Massarotti apologized at the start of his show on Monday for what he said at the end of Friday’s show.
On Friday, Massarotti told his co-host, Michael Felger, who was broadcasting from New Orleans, to be careful around two Black men who were sitting behind him in the hotel where Felger was doing the show.
“I want to know now who the two guys behind you are,” Massarotti said. “I would be careful because the last time you were around a couple of guys like that, they stole your car.”
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Massarotti talked about his comments at the start of Monday’s show. He said,
“Late in the show on Friday, I made some comments that angered and upset some people, and rightfully 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.”
“I owe everyone an apology. It’s not who I am. It’s not who we are. I can tell you that until I’m blue in the face,” Massarotti added. “All I can tell you is it’s not who I am. It got a little silly and stupid at the end of the show… It just came out wrong. I wish I could give you a better answer than that… I will do my best to make sure it never happens again.”
Felger was also accountable for what happened on the show.
“I bear some responsibility, too. I knew it was wrong the moment it went out. I could have stopped the show,” Felger said. “I could have stopped it, and corrected it, and I didn’t in real-time.”
Beasley Media Group says that Massarotti will be banned until the end of the week.
The show “Felger & Mazz,” which has won a Marconi Award, airs from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Since its first broadcast in August 2009, it has been one of the most-listened-to sports talk shows in the country.
