Tom Ricketts (Chicago Tonight File)

“The emails that were in there were unacceptable and had no place. My father has no direct role or economic interest in the team. That doesn’t represent what this organization is,” Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said.

In this Feb. 14, 2012 file photo, online brokerage TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts speaks during a ceremonial unveiling of his portrait which will hang in company headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. (AP Photo / Nati Harnik, File)

“The emails were upsetting to read, and especially upsetting to think that some of our fans were put into a position where they had to consider their favorite team and some of those types of views,” Theo Epstein said Tuesday.

In this Feb. 14, 2012 file photo, online brokerage TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts speaks during a ceremonial unveiling of his portrait which will hang in company headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. (AP Photo / Nati Harnik, File)

The patriarch of the family behind the Chicago Cubs has apologized after an online media outlet published emails in which he took part in racist comments and conspiracy theories.

The local news websites DNAinfo Chicago and Chicagoist on Thursday ceased publication and abruptly shut down.