In the social media era, someone is always watching and can cause outrage at a moment’s notice. It happened to NESN anchor Kacie McDonnell on Monday.

During a segment on Monday’s Boston Red Sox-Minnesota Twins game called “The Social Stretch,” McDonnell pointed out someone who was eating mayonnaise out of a huge jar at a Memphis Redbirds game.

The fan spilled some mayo on his t-shirt, in which some slang terms is called a “guinea tee.” McDonnell used that term Monday night on NESN:

As you can see from the tweet, someone was offended by the term. If you’re not aware of it, Urban Dictionary defines the term as “a sleeveless mens undershirt; a wifebeater or muscle T (From the stereotype that italians wear these shirts; see guinea).” For some, just the use of “guinea” to describe Italians is offensive.

Reaction on Twitter was mixed- some calling for McDonnell’s firing, others saying they weren’t offended. But McDonnell issued an apology on NESN anyway, just before her regular “Social Stretch” segment during Tuesday’s Red Sox-Twins game:

”… before we get to tonight’s Social Drive (sic), I’d like to take a minute to apologize to our viewers in particular those who I offended by an insensitive comment in my report last night. There’s no excuse for my use of hurtful words and again for that, I am truly, truly sorry.”

NESN and McDonnell hope to move on from this. There’s no word if there will be any disciplinary action taken against McDonnell.

[NESN]

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.