SUSPICION DOOMS FOX SPORTS BOSS
Sexual harassment probe proceeds as Horowitz denies wrongdoing
Jamie Horowitz was a rising sports executive when he was hired at Fox Sports two years ago, coming to the company with a background in successful debate-heavy shows at ESPN. It was a model he carried to Fox Sports 1, with hopes of transforming the network into a go-to platform for sports fans.
But Horowitz was abruptly fired Monday, and his lawyer, Patty Glaser, told USA TODAY Sports that Horowitz’s departure was probably related to a sexual harassment investigation. Fox Sports declined to release details behind Horowitz’s firing, but Fox President and CEO Eric Shanks made reference to workplace rules in announcing Horowitz’s immediate departure and saying, “We are confident in this decision.”
“Everyone at Fox Sports, no matter what role we play, or what business, function or show we contribute to — should act with respect and adhere to professional conduct at all times,” Shanks said in a memo to employees obtained by USA TODAY Sports. “These values are non-negotiable.”
The Los Angeles Times reported that Fox was investigating sexual harassment allegations. The
Times reported that several women, including on-air talent, had been interviewed. A woman who worked as a production staffer told Sports Illustrated that she met with Fox human resource officials last week and recounted how Horowitz attempted to kiss her away from the studio last year.
Glaser, Horowitz’s attorney, in a statement Monday called Fox’s handling of the matter appalling.
“At no point in his tenure was there any mention by his superiors or human resources of any misconduct or the inability to ad- here to professional standards. Jamie was hired by Fox to do a job, a job until today he had performed in an exemplary fashion. Any slanderous accusations to the contrary will be vigorously defended,” she said.
Horowitz’s brief tenure as Fox Sports president of national networks came after an even shorter stint at NBC as senior vice president/general manager on the To
day show, where he and the network parted ways after 10 weeks amid stories of Horowitz causing tumult on the set. NBC said at the time that Horowitz was not the right fit.
He returned to sports at Fox and made the calls on several major moves, including the hiring of high-profile personalities such as Skip Bayless and, most recently, the website’s pivot to video that saw 20 editors and writers dismissed last week.
Now he is Fox’s third high-profile departure in less than a year prompted by allegations of sexual harassment.
Roger Ailes, the late founder and longtime CEO of Fox News, resigned last July amid a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox News anchor. The lawsuit led to an internal investigation as other women came forward with similar accounts.
Bill O’Reilly, host of the toprated The O’Reilly Factor, left in April after numerous women stepped forward with claims of sexual harassment.
“It pours more flame on the fire,” Ted Kian, the chairman of sports media at Oklahoma State, said of the Horowitz case. “This probably would not be as big of a story had this happened at ESPN. But because it’s Fox, which has a horrific record with sexual harassment, it’s a different matter.
“Logic dictates (Fox) is being more proactive than it would have been had the other major scandals not occurred. How could a woman employed by Fox feel comfortable and confident to be treated well and fairly without action taken? We don’t know the specifics with (Horowitz), but whatever he did warranted a major media firing and showed Fox was confident in its justification.”
To Kian, the network’s sudden announcement of Horowitz’s departure is also an indication Fox has learned painful lessons.
“To say the country, as a whole, is serious about sexual harassment is a stretch. But to say white-collar executives are starting to get the picture, based on lawsuits and negative media attention, is accurate,” Kian said. “Evidently, Fox felt like (Horowitz’s alleged behavior) could turn into something. Fox seems to have finally and belatedly realized how the negative spotlight translates to the general public.”