Phillies radio host Howard Eskin suspended after ‘unwanted kiss’

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia sports radio host Howard Eskin has been suspended from Phillies home games for the rest of the season after an investigation by his employer revealed he kissed a food service employee at Citizens Bank Park without her consent.

Audacy, the parent company of Philadelphia station SportsRadio 94WIP, said in a statement that it learned of Eskin’s “unwanted kiss” of an Aramark employee and “immediately investigated the matter,” The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Tuesday.

Aramark is the food service provider for Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies.

The Phillies and Aramark released their own statements on the matter.

“We have been cooperating with our partners at Audacy and Aramark in their investigations,” the club said in a statement, adding that it takes the allegations seriously. “We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park.”

Aramark said in a statement that its investigation confirmed the allegations.

“We then worked with Audacy and the Phillies to ensure appropriate steps were taken to protect our employee and all Aramark employees at Citizens Bank Park,” Aramark said.

Audacy and Eskin did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press.

Eskin, a Philadelphia native, is a media star in the city’s sports market. He helped launch the first sports talk show, SportsRadio 94WIP, in 1986 and remains a mainstay of the station and sports television scene.