Sports reporter fired for anti-Semitic and racist remarks on Facebook Live – Mashable

While the sports website usually prerecords its episodes, this week’s iteration, unfortunately for Austen, was broadcast on Facebook Live. Throughout the broadcast, she makes a plethora of racist and anti-semitic remarks, as her cohosts laugh along. 

The derogatory comment Austen makes about Mexicans is in response to hearing about 18-year-old Larissa Martinez who, in a since deleted tweet, wrote that she had a 4.5 GPA, was her high school’s valedictorian and had a full scholarship to the University of Texas even though she is an undocumented immigrant.

And while Austen’s comments might be the most polarizing, one of her male cohosts also says during the broadcast Martinez is an “idiot” for tweeting her undocumented status, while another comments Martinez “doesn’t have hot legs.” 

It is just the beginning of the tirade with Austen continuing her rant as one of her male cohosts says, “Trump Junior, Trump Junior over here.” The comparison to Trump isn’t enough to deter Austen though, with her dropping another racist remark straight after. 

“You see, you guys know that the Chinese guy is always the smartest guy in math class,” she says. 

Her male cohosts encourage her to continue sharing her views. “That’s a good point,” one says encouragingly. “What do you think about black people?” another asks. 

The 27-year-old Tampa native then shares an anti-Semitic description of her previous interactions with Jewish people while studying and working in Boca, Florida. 

“The way I used to talk to the Jews in Boca,” she starts. “I just didn’t care. They would complain and bitch about everything. I gave a guy, delivered his beer and he was complaining to me that there was too much head. I knew that he was a stingy asshole and he wasn’t going to give me a tip.”

As her cohosts continue to aggravate and egg her on with laughter, she continues to dig herself into a bigger hole. “I’m not trying to be racist, but it’s true,” she says. The entire broadcast can be viewed here (starting at 26:00).

“I’m not trying to be racist, but it’s true.”

Host Dan Katz, though he never seems to be too phased by Austen’s comments, says, “We might have to hire you because you’re gonna get fired” at the end of the broadcast. 

As predicted, Austen was fired for her derogatory remarks Friday morning.

“She was not speaking on behalf of Fox Sports, nor do we condone any of the statements she made in the video,” Steve Tello, the network’s senior vice president, said in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times.

“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.”

Twitter users had mixed feelings about Austen’s comments as well as Fox Sports’ decision to fire her. Some fired back at Austen.

While others sent out a reminder that she was not alone on the couch. 

Some people weren’t convinced she should have been fired for her remarks.

And one user made a familiar comparison.

Mashable has reached out to Austen for comment. 

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