NBC Sports Boston / Felger & Mazz
Radio personality Tony Massarotti is expressing regret for uttering a racial epithet while broadcasting live earlier this week … informing his audience that he was unaware the term was offensive.
Massarotti delivered an 80-second remorseful statement during Thursday’s episode of “Felger & Mazz” … insisting that he bore no ill will when he referred to “z*****head” during his broadcast on Wednesday.
Massarotti was firm that he was merely attempting to tease his colleague who belongs to Generation Z … and nothing more.
“I felt it was important to clarify this,” Massarotti stated once his co-host, Michael Felger, allowed him to speak. “Because during [Wednesday’s] episode, while we were debating baseball’s Gold Glove awards, the voting process, and associated data, I made a comment about Tyler Milliken and individuals of his age and their reliance on certain metrics, expressing my skepticism toward them.”
10/16/24
NBC Sports Boston / Felger & Mazz
“In that discourse, I mistakenly utilized a term that I was unaware held offensive undertones. I didn’t realize this word was derogatory in nature. However, I directed it toward Milliken and those of his generation, albeit poorly phrased.”
He further explained, “I have come to understand that there is indeed a derogatory historical background associated with that term. Which I assure you, I was completely oblivious to.”
The term, of course, has been frequently wielded as an insult toward individuals of Asian descent … yet throughout his apology, Massarotti maintained that he was utterly unaware of this.
“I had no inkling that the word carried such a meaning,” he expressed.
The ex-Boston Globe sports columnist promised to avoid using it henceforth.
“I’m at a loss for words,” he noted. “There was no malicious intent behind my statement; I can only extend my apologies once more to those who felt insulted.”
This isn’t the initial instance of the radio host needing to apologize publicly … back in February 2023, he advised Felger to proceed with caution around two Black men sitting nearby, claiming, “Because the last time you were near individuals like them, they took your car.”
Massarotti was temporarily suspended without pay as a result of that controversy.