Phillies radio host Howard Eskin banned from home games over ‘unwanted’ kiss

Philadelphia sports radio host Howard Eskin has been suspended from Phillies home games for the remainder of the season after an investigation by his employer found he kissed an employee of the food service facility at Citizens Bank Park without permission.

Audacy, the parent company of Philadelphia’s SportsRadio 94WIP, said in a statement that it was aware of Eskin’s “unwelcome kiss” of the Aramark employee and “immediately investigated.” the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Tuesday. The Inquirer also reported that Eskin has been suspended from the Philadelphia 76ers training complex.

Aramark is a hospitality company for Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies.

The Phillies and Aramark have released their own statements on the matter.

“We have been working with our partners at Audacy and Aramark in their investigations,” the club said in a statement, adding that it takes the allegations seriously. “We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park.”

Aramark said in a statement that the investigation confirmed the allegations.

“We then worked with Audacy and the Phillies to ensure appropriate measures were taken to protect our employees and all Aramark employees at Citizens Bank Park,” Aramark said.

Audacy and Eskin did not immediately respond to messages from the Associated Press.

Eskin, who hails from Philadelphia, is a media celebrity in the city’s sports market. He helped launch SportsRadio 94WIP’s first sports talk show in 1986 and remains a mainstay of the station and sports television.