Beasley Media Group has suspended popular Boston Sports Talker Tony Massarotti after he made a racist remark during The Felger and Mazz afternoon show last Friday. Did they go far enough?
Co-host Mike Felger announced on the show Tuesday that his co-host was suspended for one week without pay. Felger read this statement put out by the company: “Beasley Media strives to create a diverse and inclusive workplace, and these comments went against its core values. The company has decided to suspend Tony for the rest of the week without pay. In addition, all of our on-air personalities at Beasley Boston will be taking sensitivity training to redouble our efforts to create a culture of understanding.”
The suspension and sensitivity training were a result of an on-air exchange between Massarotti and Felger. Felger was in New Orleans, broadcasting remotely from a room with two Black people in it. Massorotti said, “I wanna know now who the two guys behind you are. Because if I were you – they can’t hear us, right? Okay, so I would be careful if I were you. Because the last time you were around a couple of guys like that, they stole your car.” Felger’s car was stolen last November when he was in New Orleans.
Massarotti was on the air Monday and apologized for what he said Friday: “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. Those of you who know me will believe it. Those of you who don’t, won’t, and you probably shouldn’t. If I saw and heard what you did, I would feel the same way. And you have a right to be upset.”
After announcing Massarotti’s suspension Tuesday here’s what Felger said: “Minorities in this country have to put up with a lot of crap. And comments like that just make it harder for them and we apologize for that. I feel bad that I personally didn’t do more to correct it in the moment. I had the chance, and I’m just not talking about dropping it either, I had the chance there in the split-second moment to do something and I froze.”
If this incident took place at your radio station what would you have done? Was a one-week suspension without pay enough?
Please remember this: Bad managers never fire or suspend themselves. If Beasley is in fact failing it may be there is a cabal of feckless weak management people, sustained not by their leadership skills, but rather by their own bureaucracy. Those of you “laughing in the halls” GET OUT! This company at least deserves your suggestions for doing things better while you draw a paycheck.
I’m a white 60 year old male and I can’t believe he (Tony ) hasn’t been fired
I’ve said a lot of stupid stuff in my life but I don’t have the audience that he has
And now it’s Monday 27th and he’s on air and now it’s been 20 minutes or something and no apology. No nothing like let’s forget about this I find it so offensive to colored people and I don’t know why anybody does not see this is being racist And the thing about being on radio or television is once you make a mistake you can just say I’m never like that but Tony maybe you are like that you just don’t bring it to the radio and I hope I’m wrong I really do and I hope felgeryou’re not like that but come on it’s just not right it’s not right there’s enough division in this country. We don’t have to steer up any more .
Beasley is a weak and failing company. Take notice advertisers! I can tell you that the hallways of this radio station are laughing our asses off at our pathetic ownership! You suck Brian and Caroline. Oh, and Justin just runs and hides when he actually has to work! WOKE JOKES!
Just because of a single incident, Beasley forces all its on-air talent to undergo sensitivity training. It’s ridiculous. This country was built on freedom of expression. What’s happening to it today?
Fire Mazz!!!
I’m still trying to figure out what he said was racist.
Keep trying. You won’t ever understand LOL. Beasley manages from a perspective of fear.
Ridiculous. How would the audience know the two people were Black. He didn’t say they were. Better idea… Felger should fire Beasley and go work for real sports content organization.