On the eve of the Carolina Hurricanes facing the Boston Bruins in the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals, WBZ-FM show Toucher And Rich in Boston has sparked controversy in the Carolinas after hanging up on Hurricanes beater reporter Chip Alexander midway through an interview due to him "Having a southern accent."
"He had a southern accent. I can't take it. Hockey and southern accents," Fred Toettcher, a co-host said on the air.
Alexander, a reporter for the Raleigh News and Observer joined the show at 16:19 in the clip below and spoke about the Canes season.
At 20:55, Toettcher hung up on Alexander.
Toucher & Rich: Fred hangs Up on A Hurricanes Beat Writer (Hour 3) https://t.co/hxlD1RBG22 @toucherandrich
— 98.5 The Sports Hub (@985TheSportsHub)
May 8, 2019 Take a look at some of the reactions from WFNZ personalities, notable Charlotte reporters and Twitter users thoughts below. Also, listen to audio from The Mac Attack on the situation.
Don't think Hurricanes beat reporter @MarkBaker6060 won't be calling Boston Sports Radio. You want accents, you get it.
— Travis Hancock (@TBoneWFNZ)
May 9, 2019 Listened to this last night. It was a classless, douchebag move from @Toucherandrich. But this is the same station that mocked Roy Halladay dying in a plane crash. That’s Boston sports radio. People up there seem to like it. https://t.co/jvNmwMxGBy
— Kyle Bailey (@KyleBaileyWFNZ)
May 9, 2019 A Boston accent judging a Southern accent is like Mama June calling Joanna Gaines white trash https://t.co/GXaJKqEjaM
— Nicholas Wilson (@NickWilsonWFNZ)
May 9, 2019 If there was anything that could get me on the Canes bandwagon it’s my hatred of Boston sports and assholes like this. https://t.co/hLl4fjEUDo
— Julian Council (@JulianCouncil)
May 9, 2019 Try not to hang up on him.
— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip)
May 9, 2019 It’s pathetic Chip has to deal with this. Of course he’s handling it fantastically, which speaks more to his character... and again proves how idiotic those Boston radio hosts were. https://t.co/XK5vEAVTGX
— Brendan Marks (@BrendanRMarks)
May 9, 2019 Amazingly juvenile. Sorry you dealt with such foolishness, Chip. https://t.co/ZSzW4n6gFl
— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell)
May 9, 2019 When we booked guests, we were asking them, essentially, for a favor. “Take time out of your day, and help us entertain/inform our listeners. We are not paying you, but could you do it?” To hang up on a guest is unprofessional, and low rent. I’ve never heard of that show before.
— Mike Solarte (@MikeSolarte)
May 9, 2019 What a dick move. This is why I hate Boston. I hope the Hurricanes dismantle the Bruins. https://t.co/crIUw8yCzT
— Jason Huber (@_JasonHuber)
May 9, 2019 Canes in 4 https://t.co/vDPa0D3huw
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9)
May 9, 2019 Chip Alexander is a terrific guy (and also a great reporter).If the Boston radio host wasn't such a jerk, his audience might have learned a thing or two from Chip. https://t.co/Qy3gCGPuKm
— Mike Waters (@MikeWatersSYR)
May 9, 2019 Super unprofessional. Especially considering @ice_chip is definitely a Canes reporter you can rely on. Pretty disappointing from everyone involved. https://t.co/NwkpGr1GKu
— Aaron Schmidtke (@aaronschmidtke)
May 9, 2019 I feel like after what the guys on @985TheSportsHub did to Chip Alexander today, it's only fitting that all of us here in North Carolina call in tomorrow morning and exclusively talk about how we can't stand listening to people talk with Boston accents. #TakeWarning
— x - Curran Campbell (@fiveismagic5)
May 9, 2019 I'll take Chip Alexander's record, and his accent, over that loser radio host 100 times out of 100. @985TheSportsHub https://t.co/nKeJP6CCCr
— Larry Williams (@LarryWilliamsTI)
May 9, 2019
