Tigers executives accused of misconduct toward women, per report
At least eight men working for the Detroit Tigers, the team’s business operations or broadcast partner have been accused of misconduct toward women over the past two years, according to a news report released Wednesday, Sept. 10.
The allegations, which ranged from offensive comments to physical confrontation, involve four vice presidents, two other high-ranking employees and former Tigers players and broadcasters Cameron Maybin and Craig Monroe, The Athletic reported as part of a months-long investigation into the franchise.
All but one of the men were accused by women who work for Ilitch Sports and Entertainment, the company that operates the Tigers, the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Six of the men have already resigned, were fired or did not have their contracts renewed, according to the report, with three leaving the franchise in a six-month span during the past year.
The Athletic details a ‘boys’ club’ that developed within the Tigers’ franchise where female employees were frequently the target of inappropriate comments about their appearance and didn’t feel safe, particularly once the team merged into Ilitch Sports and Entertainment in 2022 and human resources departments were combined for several teams and organizations owned by the Illitch family.
‘We are committed to a culture of respect, safety, and inclusion,’ Olympia Entertainment, an affiliate of Ilitch Sports and Entertainment, said in a statement issued to USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. ‘We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment, and when concerns are raised, we investigate promptly and take decisive action, which has included terminating employees for misconduct, regardless of seniority or tenure. We are committed to accountability and to upholding the standards essential to our workplace.’
‘Building on that commitment, we work hard every day to improve our workplace culture,’ the statement continued. ‘We encourage open dialogue and feedback, celebrate the contributions of our colleagues, and continue to invest in programs that support growth, well-being, and inclusion. Our colleagues have multiple channels to share input, supported by a strong HR team that responds quickly to concerns. We also provide ongoing, company-wide training and education to prevent and address inappropriate behavior.
‘These efforts foster a culture where colleagues feel confident raising concerns, knowing that action will be taken when issues arise. We are grateful to the employees who have spoken up here, and to the more than 3,000 full- and part-time colleagues who contribute every day to ensuring a safe work environment.’
The most serious allegations involve Michael Lienert, a former vice president of premium sales and private events with Ilitch Sports and Entertainment. He is accused of making female employees uncomfortable by staring at them and allegedly engaged in two relationships with female coworkers that he did not disclose to the organization. Lienert, according to The Athletic, got into a heated exchange with one of the women in early 2023 and allegedly pushed her down a flight of stairs.
Lienert, now the vice president of partnership sales with Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire, was immediately suspended while the Tigers initiated an investigation. Lienert resigned shortly thereafter, according to the team. He denied the allegations through his attorney, The Athletic reported.
Assistant general manager Sam Menzin resigned after 13 years with the team last April and the Tigers did not disclose why he left. But The Athletic previously reported Menzin departed after an internal investigation found he sent inappropriate and unsolicited photos to multiple women who worked for the team. Josh Bullock, the former vice president of business operations at the Tigers’ spring training facility in Lakeland, Fla., and former director of video content production Rob Gehring are also named in the report related to inappropriate comments or conduct towards women in the organization.
Two men accused of misconduct towards women in the report still work for the Tigers. Peter Soto, the vice president of game presentation and fan experience, was placed on suspension after The Athletic asked the team for comment before the publication of its report. The Tigers, meanwhile, defended Illitch Sports and Entertainment vice president of communications and broadcasting Peter Fidelman after he was alleged to have frequently spoken inappropriately at women in the organization.
“It is inaccurate and unfair to group Mr. Fidelman within a story about accusations of sexual harassment or related misconduct,’ Olympia Entertainment said in a statement. ‘A concern unrelated to either was raised, and consistent with our process, it was investigated thoroughly, and no wrongdoing was found.”
Maybin, while working as a pre- and post-game analyst for Bally Sports Detroit in 2023, is accused of making inappropriate remarks about a female co-worker’s appearance and sending inappropriate and unwanted late-night text messages to multiple women. Monroe, a former team broadcaster, was listed as a suspect in a police report from July 2024 in Frisco, Texas related to sexual assault of a child. He denied the charges at the time and the case is inactive.
Both Maybin and Monroe were subsequently removed from Tigers’ broadcasts on the network, which is now called Fanduel Sports Network.
The Tigers have also faced at least three lawsuits in Michigan that included allegations of age discrimination since 2022, according to The Athletic. Two of the cases were dismissed after the parties reached a settlement.
The Tigers currently lead the American League Central and remain on track to make the MLB playoffs for the second season in a row.
This story has been updated to include new information. It will continue to be updated.