Open Now
Open Now
Watch now

Boston radio host Fred Toucher off air, says he will enter mental institution

Boston sports radio host Fred Toucher will be off the air for a yet-to-be-determined amount of time, and he says he will enter a mental institution. The radio host sparked concern during Tuesday’s edition of the highly rated “Toucher and Rich” show on 98.5 The Sports Hub, during which he went on several intense rants …

Boston sports radio host Fred Toucher will be off the air for a yet-to-be-determined amount of time, and he says he will enter a mental institution.

The radio host sparked concern during Tuesday’s edition of the highly rated “Toucher and Rich” show on 98.5 The Sports Hub, during which he went on several intense rants on a wide range of subjects, including the fact that he’s getting divorced.

Toucher had been late for the 7 a.m. hour and sounded irritated, prompting his co-host Rich Shertenlieb to suggest that he should take some time off the air.

The 45-year-old was then not part of Wednesday’s show. That same day, he posted an update to his Instagram revealing that he would enter a mental institution. In the post, Toucher also denied allegations from some listeners that he was drunk during Tuesday’s rant.

“First of all thank you to the listeners that have my back,” he wrote. “For some reason I want you guys to know I have never been drunk on the air [management has never accused me of such} I am going to a mental institution next week. I am sometimes too forthcoming on the air. I’m used to just being honest about my life but when you are a [expletive] that isn’t such a good idea.”

Shortly into Wednesday’s program, Shertenlieb explained Toucher’s absence.

“Listen, with everything that’s going on, Fred’s going to take a couple of days off,” Shertenlieb said. “And we love the guy, can’t wait until he gets back. But if you heard any of the show yesterday, we know that this is something that he’s going to just take a few days and step back, and we’re glad. And once again, we wish him the best and he’ll be back soon.”

“We’re here for you, bud, we’re here for you and we miss you,” fellow host Jon Wallach added.

The Sports Hub usually posts each hour of its programming on its podcast platforms, but all four hours of Tuesday’s show are unavailable. Sports Hub management declined to provide specifics on Toucher’s status, but released a formal statement from its corporate parent, Beasley Media Group.

“As a responsible company committed to the Boston Community, we take this matter very seriously,” the statement read. “Fred will be off the air while we continue to review the situation.”

Follow us on Google News