Dan Bernstein Ousted: The Score Drops a Radio Legend Amid Controversy
In a shocking turn of events, longtime host Dan Bernstein has been shown the door at The Score after a fiery social media clash. The announcement came Friday, delivered by station vice president Mitch Rosen in a brief but telling statement.
“On behalf of [Audacy market manager] Kevin Cassidy and myself, we want to let all of you know that Dan Bernstein no longer works at The Score. We thank Dan for his time here and wish him nothing but the best,” Rosen said in an internal email obtained by the Sun-Times.
But the airwaves won’t be silent about Bernstein anytime soon. Just minutes after the announcement, Matt Spiegel took to the mic, refusing to let the station’s history with Bernstein fade quietly.
“The Score said goodbye to one of its most famous, influential, and impactful hosts. Dan Bernstein is gone, and we won’t shy away from discussing him,” Spiegel declared. “We’ve been advised not to talk about the events of the last week, but we won’t shy away from talking about Bernsy and our journey together.”
Bernstein’s exit follows an explosive Twitter feud on March 14 that kept him off the air all week. It all started with what seemed like an innocent fishing photo, where Bernstein showed off his latest catch. Things took a dark turn when an X user accused him of killing the fish, to which Bernstein fired back, insisting it was “released successfully.”
The exchange escalated rapidly. When the user called Bernstein a liar, the radio veteran snapped: “I never respond to trolls, but questioning my sportsmanship and conservation awareness sets me off. Wanna fight? I’m a bad enemy, [expletive].” He went even further, allegedly threatening to dox the user before hinting, “Want your kids involved?”
Though the tweets were quickly deleted, screenshots have made sure the internet never forgets.
The backlash was swift. On Sunday, Camp One Step by Children’s Oncology Services cut ties with Bernstein, stating, “Recently, Dan Bernstein made comments on social media that don’t reflect our mission. As a result, we’ve removed him from our board of directors.”
This latest controversy is just another in a long history of incendiary moments for Bernstein. From his notorious spat with Barstool Chicago’s Eddie to his crude Twitter comments about a former Comcast SportsNet reporter’s appearance, Bernstein has never been a stranger to controversy. He even once mocked Cubs legend Ron Santo’s amputated legs, a move that enraged listeners.
Yet, despite the firestorms, Bernstein remained a powerhouse on the air. His show, featuring Marshall Harris and regular appearances by Leila Rahimi, dominated the ratings with a 7.4 share among men 25-54—the highest at the station. His deep, well-researched takes on sports and breaking news made him a mainstay since he first joined The Score in 1995.
Bernstein’s departure marks the end of one of Chicago’s most polarizing radio careers. But will he stay down for long? Love him or hate him, Bernstein’s voice has been a defining one in sports radio for nearly three decades. If history tells us anything, this might not be the last time we hear from him.
