Orlando — Former Fox Sports Florida reporter Emily Austen, 27, was dismissed from her role after appearing on a Facebook Live webcast where she made derogatory comments about multiple ethnic and religious groups, including Jews.
During the webcast, Austen mocked Mexicans, calling them “not that smart,” and then turned her remarks toward Jewish people. She recounted negative stereotypes from her time working as a server in Boca Raton, describing Jewish customers as “stingy” and complaining about their behavior. Her co‑hosts expressed shock at the comments, which quickly drew public backlash.
The following day, Fox Sports Florida Senior Vice President Steve Bello issued a statement confirming Austen’s termination. He stressed that Austen’s remarks were made on a platform unaffiliated with Fox Sports and that the company “does not condone any of the statements she made.”
Austen later posted an apology on Twitter, acknowledging that her comments were offensive and unacceptable. Despite the apology, the incident effectively ended her broadcasting career, with no future appearances scheduled on Fox Sports Florida or Fox Sports Sun.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about racism and antisemitism in sports media, as organizations face pressure to uphold standards of inclusivity and accountability.
Credit: B’nai Brith Canada
Subscribe to the JFN WhatsApp Channel
