Boston Globe Columnist Kevin Cullen Faces New Accusations of Fabrication from Radio Host Kirk Minihane

Boston Globe opinion columnist Kevin Cullen has been accused of fabricating details in a recent column by prominent radio broadcaster Kirk Minihane, who previously exposed Cullen's false reporting about the Boston Marathon bombing. The allegations mark the latest credibility issue for a writer previously suspended by the newspaper for lying.

The Latest Accusation

Minihane recently challenged claims made in Cullen's column titled "Betting on America," which centered on a visit to the Encore Boston casino in Everett. The piece opens with the assertion "I am not a gambler," but Cullen then claims he accidentally booked the wrong hotel—stating he intended to check into the Envoy rather than the casino-attached Encore.

Minihane argues this explanation is implausible. According to the radio host, booking errors of this magnitude cannot occur during online hotel reservations because the destination appears clearly on-screen before confirmation. Minihane further challenged Cullen's claim that the Encore offered Boston's cheapest hotel rooms. After surveying 25 luxury hotels in the area, Minihane found all offered lower rates than the Encore, undermining the stated rationale for the casino stay.

History of Disciplinary Action

This is not Cullen's first brush with credibility questions at the Boston Globe. Eight years prior, in 2018, Minihane exposed fabrications in Cullen's marathon bombing coverage. The columnist had made media appearances suggesting he witnessed the attack, claims later proven false. The Boston Globe suspended Cullen as a result of that investigation. Minihane's current critique suggests similar patterns of unverified or misleading statements have resurfaced in the columnist's recent work.

Minihane has stated publicly that despite the pattern of inaccuracies, he views Cullen's columns as a source of entertainment value. His team, including Maine Wire editor Steve Robinson, initially helped unmask the 2018 fabrications through detailed fact-checking and public scrutiny of the columnist's claims.