Zaun issues formal apology

But statement issued by Zaun’s lawyer also dodges blame for circumstances leading to firing

Former Sportsnet baseball analyst Gregg Zaun, fired last week after “inappropriate behaviour and comments” directed at female colleagues, apologized Monday for the “harm and distress” they suffered.

But the statement, issued by Zaun’s lawyer, also dodges blame for the circumstances leading to Zaun’s firing.

“It has never been my intention to give offense to anyone,” said the statement attributed to the 46-year-old retired major league catcher.

“I’ve done a lot of soul searching over the last few days and know that my ignorance of the harm caused by my language does not excuse it — for which I accept responsibility.”

Zaun retired in 2010 after a 16-year major league career that included stints in Toronto, Tampa Bay and Kansas City. In 2011, he earned a permanent spot on Sportsnet’s baseball broadcasts, and spent the next seven seasons cultivating a persona he called the “Manalyst” — a blunt and virile commentator who spouted edgy opinions on the Jays and their players.

After his dismissal last Thursday, female Sportsnet employees describe a co-worker who brought the same rough-edged “Manalyst” persona to the office, making women there extremely uncomfortable.

“Zaun’s on-air brand and image was based around aggressive masculinity so when he wore (undershirts) around the office and made rude sexual comments directly to women, or in close proximity of women,” said one female Sportsnet employee to the Canadian Press. “(He did it) with the clear intention of making us uncomfortable, it was sort of implied — that’s who he was, deal with it.”

In the statement issued Monday, Zaun professes not to have known his workplace behaviour was hurtful. At one point he suggests he would have made adjustments if the offended parties had simply pointed out his misdeeds, and describes himself as “blindsided and gutted by the allegations” that prompted Sportsnet to drop him.

“My remorse . . . is that it was never raised before and I naively believed that my language and behaviour were not considered offensive,” the statement said. “I regret my blindness to the impact of my actions that I would have corrected at the time rather than allowing the harm felt to continue to fester.”

Zaun’s firing was the latest in a string of dismissals of high profile media and entertainment figures accused of sexual improprieties in the workplace.

Last month CBS and PBS both fired veteran newscaster Charlie Rose after sexual harassment allegations. And the day before Sportsnet fired Zaun, NBC dumped Today Show host Matt Lauer after complaints from female staffers revealed a pattern of sexual harassment and exploitation spanning several years.

“My remorse . . . is that it was never raised before and I naively believed that my language and behaviour were not considered offensive.” GREGG ZAUN