Rays sideline reporter axed after racist comments in Facebook chat
Emily Austen won't be the sideline reporter for future Tampa Bay Rays games on Fox Sports Florida. Nor will she do that job for the Orlando Magic next season either.
After unleashing a variety of racial and religious jokes during a live Facebook chat with Barstool Sports, Austen has gotten the ax from Fox's regional sports station.
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Austen appeared Thursday on Barstool Sports' daily Facebook Live chat and while trying to bro it up with the Bartstool gang, she trotted out stereotypes about Mexicans, Chinese people and Jews, while also name-calling Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Here's a recap from the Tampa Bay Times:
During a 35-minute video with three men, Austen made several controversial comments, among them:
• That she "didn't even know that Mexicans were that smart.''
• How the "Chinese guy is always the smartest guy in math class.''
• About how she "used to talk to Jews in Boca'' when she was a server, saying one customer was "stingy'' because he complained about how she poured his beer and that "they would complain and b---- about everything.''
Austen, 27, also referred to Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player Kevin Love as a "little b - - - -.''
While this is the sort of anti-PC, bro-centric content that has made Barstool Sports a popular (and well-funded) Internet destination, Austen learned pretty quickly what flies on Barstool Sports doesn't necessarily fly at her workplace.
Steve Tello, the general manager and senior vice president of Fox Sports Florida said in a statement:
"We were made aware that Emily Austen appeared in a social media video unaffiliated with Fox Sports in which she made insensitive and derogatory comments. She was not speaking on behalf of Fox Sports, nor do we condone any of the statements she made in the video. Emily has been advised that her comments were unacceptable, and she is not scheduled to appear on any upcoming Fox Sports Florida or Fox Sports Sun broadcasts."
According to the Times, Austen wasn't a full-time employee, rather a contractor who covered the Rays and Magic, as well as hosted programs such as "Inside the Rays." Numerous sites are reporting that Fox Sports Florida has chosen to end its relationship with Austen.
The video in question was deleted from the Barstool Sports Facebook page at some point before Friday morning, but it surfaced on Reddit and later Deadspin. You can watch it below, but be warned, there's plenty of NSFW language.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
