98.5 WBZ/Boston's Fred Toucher Off Air After Bizarre Rants

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, July 23, 2020

Fred Toucher

Fred Toucher of the "Toucher and Rich Show" has been a staple of Boston radio for decades, but he'll be off the air for an undisclosed period of time after a series of bizarre on-air rants Tuesday morning on 98.5 The Sports Hub WBZ-FM in which he revealed many uncomfortable details of his personal life. Beasley Media Group says it is conducting a full review of the situation.

Toucher's Tuesday morning rants included him complaining about Black people who have criticized Jewish people, revealing personal details of his pending divorce and discussing a caller's claim that he seems to be on painkillers.

In an Instagram post, Toucher later denied allegations (from some listeners who posted about the show on Twitter) that he was drunk Tuesday, but said that he plans to check himself into a mental institution. 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."

On Wednesday morning, Toucher's on-air partner Rich Shertenlieb explained to that Toucher would be out for a while saying, "Listen, with everything that's going on, Fred's going to take a couple of days off. 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."