Boston radio host Tony Massarotti breaks silence after using ‘racial slur’ live on air

Boston radio host Tony Massarotti has apologized for his use of racial slurs live on air this week.

Massarotti said the word “zipperhead” — which is often used against people of Asian descent — though he said Thursday he was trying to make a joke about a Gen-Z colleague’s age and had no knowledge of the racial meaning the word has. .

‘…During the day [Wednesday’s] show, while we were discussing baseball’s Gold Glove awards, the voting and the data that went into it, I referenced Tyler Milliken and people his age and their reliance on some of the statistics and how I didn’t believe in them,’ he said of “Felger & Mazz.”

‘And I used a derogatory term that I didn’t know. I didn’t know 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 continued, “I have since come to realize that there has historically been a derogatory context for that term. Which, I assure you, I did not know.”

The word was used by American military personnel to discriminate against Asian people during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Massarotti, 56, got into trouble last year for similar racially insensitive comments that led to his suspension from the airwaves.

In February 2023, Massarotti was addressing cohost Michael Felger, who was working remotely, when the former referred to two African-American men sitting in the background.

“Right now I want to know who the two guys behind you are,” Massarotti asked Felger, who co-hosted the show from a hotel in New Orleans, according to WCVB.

“They can’t hear us, right? Okay, so I’d be careful if I were you. Because the last time you were around guys like that, they stole your car.”

He later clarified that he just wanted to “make fun” of Felger, who reportedly had his car stolen in New Orleans in the fall.