Fox Sports Florida Reporter in Hot Water for Racist Comments

By A.J. Katz 

Fox Sports Florida and Fox Sports Sun sideline reporter Emily Austen has been pulled from her assignments after a controversial taped appearance on the popular, raunchy sports and entertainment website Barstool Sports. Austen, who had covered the Tampa Bay Rays and Orlando Magic for the aforementioned regional sports networks, was filmed as part of the site’s daily “Barstool Rundown” program. She is seen making statements like: “I didn’t even know Mexicans were that smart,” (the 25:30 mark) and “You guys know that the Chinese guy is always the smartest guy in math class.” Austen also told a story about “the way I used to talk to the Jews” while working as a waitress in Boca Raton, Fla., and referred to Cleveland Cavaliers Forward Kevin Love as “a little bitch.”

Deadspin, which first reported the story, got a comment from Fox Sports Florida which said Austen was not “speaking on behalf of FOX Sports.” Fox Sports Florida svp Steve Tello told Deadspin the following after the website published the story:

“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.”

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Barstool founder Dave “El Presidente” Portnoy addressed the issue in the form of a post on the site:

“So we tried an experiment today. We used Facebook Live for the rundown so people could watch it raw. Then we (Hank probably) somehow deleted the video which was supposed to be edited for the actual show today. Long and short of it is if you didn’t watch it in real time you missed it. But being the team player I am, the captain I am, the leader I am, I just put together 8:35 seconds of hell. Also this should teach everybody a lesson. When we say we’re going live you better watch cause it may never be repeated.”

Below is the video of Austen’s appearance. Watch at your own discretion. You can find out more information from our sister blog TVSpy:

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