{"id":52367,"date":"2025-09-11T15:28:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T15:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=52367"},"modified":"2025-09-11T15:28:59","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T15:28:59","slug":"at-least-eight-men-employed-by-the-detroit-tigers-its-business-arm-or-broadcast-partner-have-been-accused-of-misconduct-toward-women-since-2023-including-four-vps-and-two-other-high-ranking-employee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=52367","title":{"rendered":"At least eight men employed by the Detroit Tigers, its business arm or broadcast partner have been accused of misconduct toward women since 2023, including four VPs and two other high-ranking employees, per The Athletic. The allegations against the men ranged from offensive comments to physical confrontation."},"content":{"rendered":"

who was assistant general manager of the Tigers. He resigned in April 2025 after investigators found that over several years he had sent unsolicited explicit or lewd photos to multiple women who worked for the team, and also to at least one woman elsewhere in Major League Baseball. These photos were sent via Snapchat, and some dated back to as far as 2017. (SI<\/a>) The Tigers had been preparing to terminate him, but he resigned before that could happen. (SI<\/a>)Michael Lienert<\/strong>, former sales vice president. In 2023 he allegedly pushed a female co-worker (with whom he had an undisclosed relationship) down a flight of stairs. He resigned following those allegations. (ESPN.com<\/a>)Ben Fidelman<\/strong>, Director of Communications and Broadcasting. He was investigated by human resources in the spring of 2025 after a female employee alleged he subjected her to retaliation and gender discrimination. (ESPN.com<\/a>) The organization responded by saying it was \u201cinaccurate and unfair to group Mr. Fidelman within a story about accusations of sexual harassment or related misconduct\u201d<\/em>, and that a concern unrelated to sexual harassment had been raised. The investigation reportedly found no wrongdoing. (LMT Online<\/a>)Another VP, whose identity isn\u2019t always given in public reports, was accused of using offensive remarks. Among the eight men, four are vice presidents. The allegations are not all identical in nature; some are verbal harassment, others cross into physical wrongdoing<\/p>\n

Beyond those named above, the full set of allegations spans a range of misconduct:<\/p>\n

Verbal harassment and offensive comments \u2014 remarks of a sexist nature, or comments that created discomfort or fear among women staffers.)Physical confrontations \u2014 pushing (as in the Lienert case), or threats of physical contact.Unsolicited explicit communications \u2014 as in the case of Menzin sending lewd photos unsolicited. (SI<\/a>)Retaliation and discrimination claims, especially gender discrimination. Some women said that after complaining or in the course of their work they were retaliated against.<\/p>\n

Of the eight men accused:<\/p>\n

Six<\/strong> have either been fired, had their contracts not renewed, or resignedOne<\/strong> was suspended after the report came out.Some of the women alleged the culture made it difficult for them to report misconduct, or that speaking up carried risk to their job or professional relationships<\/p>\n

Beyond the individual cases, the report describes a broader workplace culture within Ilitch Sports & Entertainment (which owns the Tigers and other sports properties) that many employees\u2014especially women\u2014found hostile or unsafe. Key themes that have come up in the reporting:<\/p>\n

A sense among women employees that they were not believed or that speaking up would be risky for their careers. There was a perception that male executives could act with impunity.A prevailing male\u2011dominated environment, which some said carried norms or behaviors that tolerated or normalized demeaning comments or practicesIn some cases, lack of clarity or enforcement of policies around harassment, discrimination, and appropriate behaviour, making it difficult for employees to know how to safely report concernsup released statements to emphasize commitment to a workplace of respect, safety, and inclusion. Some specific points from their response and actions include:<\/p>\n

The organization says it does not tolerate discrimination or harassment, and that when concerns are raised, it investigates them \u201cpromptly and take(s) decisive action, which has included terminating employees for misconduct, regardless of seniority or tenure.\u201d (ESPN.com<\/a>)In the case of Sam Menzin, the organization conducted an investigation, and while they were preparing to terminate his contract, he resigned. (SI<\/a>)In the case of Ben Fidelman, the claim of wrongdoing was investigated, but the organization says they found no wrongdoing.<\/p>\n

These revelations raise a number of questions beyond the individual cases:<\/p>\n

Accountability and culture change<\/strong>: Whether the changes already made are sufficient to shift long\u2011standing cultural norms. The recurrence of allegations suggests systemic issues rather than purely isolated misconduct.Policy and enforcement<\/strong>: How robust the policies are regarding harassment, discrimination, retaliation; how visible and trusted the reporting mechanisms are; whether there are independent oversight or third\u2011party procedures to ensure fairness.Support and safety for employees<\/strong>: Ensuring that women who raise concerns are protected (from retaliation, from harm to their careers) and that they believe they will be taken seriously.Transparency<\/strong>: How much information is made public about investigations, findings, and actions taken, especially in terms of outcomes and whether those accused are able to respond.Broader practices across sport<\/strong>: This is not unique to the Tigers; it reflects issues in many organizations where power differences, male\u2011dominated leadership, and weak accountability allow misconduct toward women to persist.<\/p>\n

In summary, the The Athletic<\/em> investigation paints a troubling picture of multiple serious accusations against high\u2011level officials within the Detroit Tigers\u2019 orbit. Some have left or been removed, but many affected employees feel the organization still has a long way to go to ensure safety, equity, and accountability. If you like, I can pull up a list of all eight<\/em> names with full allegation summaries, or compare how this situation stacks up with other MLB teams.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

who was assistant general manager of the Tigers. 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