Disturbing workplace misconduct allegations embroil Tigers as fans demand answers

At least eight men affiliated with the Detroit Tigers have been slapped with deeply disturbing allegations of misconduct toward women since 2023, according to a report from The Athletic. Among those men are four vice presidents and two other high-ranking employees.

Seven of the eight men were accused of mistreating women employed by Ilitch Sports and Entertainment (IS+E), which operates the Tigers, the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, Comerica Park, Little Caesars Arena and other entertainment entities. According to the report, the allegations against the men ranged from offensive comments to physical confrontation.

Six of the accused men either resigned, were fired or did not have their contracts renewed. Three of them departed in a six-month stretch beginning last November.

The Athletic launched an investigation into the Tigers' workplace culture in late April after assistant general manager Sam Menzin abruptly resigned after 13 years with the team when an internal investigation found that he sent lewd, unsolicited photos to multiple women who worked for the team. Unfortunately, Menzin's case did not prove to be an exception.

“The dysfunction is woven into the culture. It feels like a bunch of guys who can do whatever they want,” a current male employee told The Athletic's Britt Ghiroli and Alex Andreyev. “It’s not a place women can feel safe.”

Bombshell report outing Tigers raises deep concerns about treatment of women in the workplace

One of the men accused of misconduct was former vice president of premium sales and private events Michael Lienert, who was accused of staring at women in a manner that made them uncomfortable during his time with the Tigers. He also reportedly engaged in two relationships with female coworkers that he did not disclose to the team and allegedly pushed one of the women down a flight of stairs. Lienert was suspended by the Tigers, resigned and currently works for the Chicago Fire of MLS.

Two other men, Josh Bullock and Rob Gehring, exited the organization between November 2024 and April 2025, around the same time Menzin resigned. Bullock, the Tigers' vice president of business operations, was accused of harassing both male and female coworkers and reportedly made inappropriate comments in front of several women while at a bar with colleagues. He was fired in March.

Gehring, the director of video content production, was reportedly the subject of a human resources investigation regarding multiple complaints alleging he referred to female coworkers as "honey" or other pet names and touched them unnecessarily. He was fired a week after the HR investigation began.

Two other employees, Peter Soto and Ben Fidelman, were accused of making inappropriate comments to, and about, female employees. Both Soto and Fidelman were reportedly involved in HR investigations but remain with the team today. Fidelman was reportedly promoted to vice president a week after being investigated by HR when a female employee accused him of retaliation and gender discrimination.

Additionally, two former Tigers players who served as analysts on team broadcasts – Cameron Maybin and Craig Monroe – did not have their contracts renewed after allegations arose alleging misconduct. Maybin was accused of making inappropriate comments toward female employees and engaging in inappropriate late-night phone calls with them. HR began investigating his behavior in May 2023, but he still remained on the broadcast for the remainder of the season. Monroe was taken off team broadcasts after he was accused of sexual abuse of a minor, and his contract was not renewed.

Multiple women who work for the organization revealed that their male managers had told them how to dress, so as not to create a distraction for their male colleagues. Last year, a group of female employees expressed the need for paid maternity leave and feminine products in bathrooms. Their requests were unfulfilled.

These horrific allegations are coming to light during the final stretch of the regular season as the Tigers gear up for what they hope will be another deep playoff run. The team enters play Wednesday with 83 wins, tied for the most in the American League.

“We have team meetings and they celebrate like everything is going great,” a current employee told Ghiroli and Andreyev. “Yeah, the team is playing well. But let’s be real.”

Yes, let's. Misconduct toward female employees is far too common in sports and other male-dominated industries, and it often goes unreported in an industry culture that enables sexual harassment and abuse. The Tigers may have cut ties with some (but not all) of the men included in The Athletic's report, but one can deduce that it's an organization where misogyny and gender-based harassment are institutionalized.

Taking any kind of gender-based harassment or abuse should never be considered part of the job description for women working in sports. The Tigers need to start taking that as seriously as they do their quest for a World Series title.

If you or someone you know has been sexually abused or assaulted, help is available at theNational Sexual Assault Hotline.