Exercise caution when speaking on live radio.
A Boston radio host faced criticism on Monday for a remark he made during a discussion concerning former NHL player Adam Johnson.
Johnson was participating in a game for the Nottingham Panthers in England’s Elite Ice Hockey League when he suffered a severe neck injury from an opponent’s skate blade on Saturday. Although he received immediate medical attention on the ice, tragically, he did not survive. On Sunday, the Panthers announced Johnson’s passing; he was just 29 years old.
This incident became national news and was featured in a news segment on “The Greg Hill Show” on WEEI that Monday morning. Host Greg Hill and his colleagues began debating whether Johnson’s fatal injury was the result of an intentional act by the opposing player, Matt Petgrave.
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During the discussion, Chris Curtis, the show’s producer, made a comment that he wished someone would do the same to him – referring to having their throat cut with a skate – after Mac Jones threw an interception in the New England Patriots’ loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
Curtis stated, “I wanted a skate to the neck when Mac [Jones] threw that pick.”
The exchange can be heard below.
Many people found Curtis’s comment highly insensitive, given the tragic circumstances surrounding Johnson’s death. Notably, this is not the first time Curtis has faced criticism for remarks made on air.
Earlier this year, Curtis was accused of making a racist joke about an ESPN reporter, though he claimed it was a case of misspeaking.
In the wake of Johnson’s passing, authorities in England are investigating the incident, with some calling for Petgrave to potentially face criminal charges.
Adam Johnson had played in 13 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. He had also been a part of the AHL affiliates of the Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, and Philadelphia Flyers.
