Radio Host Apologizes for Use of Derogatory Term, Faces Criticism

A radio broadcaster from Boston’s “98.5 The Sports Hub” issued an apology on Thursday for using a term on-air that he did not realize had a derogatory connotation. The incident occurred during a discussion about baseball’s Gold Glove Awards, where the host referred to his producer and people of a younger generation using a pejorative term. “I did want to address this, because 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 (Zo & Bertrand associate producer) Tyler Milliken and people his age and their reliance on some of the metrics, and how I didn’t believe in them,” he stated. “And in so doing, I used a derogatory term that was unbeknownst to me.”

The host’s comments drew swift criticism on social media, with many expressing disappointment and calling for accountability. The radio personality expressed regret, stating, “I didn’t know that 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.” He added, “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.”

Massarotti, who co-hosts the “Felger & Mazz” afternoon show, has been criticized previously for “insensitive” comments. Earlier this year, he was suspended after making racially insensitive remarks on-air when he described two Black men who appeared in a video feed during a live broadcast from New Orleans. The comment referenced the theft of a colleague’s car in a prior incident in the city. Details about this incident were reported by The Boston Globe.

Despite the recent controversy, neither Massarotti nor Beasley Media Group, which owns “98.5 The Sports Hub,” have publicly addressed the use of the derogatory term on Thursday. Recordings of the show have circulated widely, further igniting the public’s reaction. The incident has reignited discussions surrounding the responsibility of media personalities to maintain awareness and sensitivity in their language.