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Tag: Alleged
Rob Gronkowski takes NFL officials to task over alleged Chiefs favoritism
Surely, referees in the National Football League don’t actually favor the Kansas City Chiefs, do they?
Well, Rob Gronkowski has the mind of the NFL fan and thinks that something is up.
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The Chiefs are in their third consecutive Super Bowl, and it’s fair to say they got some benefit from the officiating in the AFC title game against the Buffalo Bills.
Rob Gronkowski (Jim Rogash/Getty Images/File)
A pivotal 4th-and-1 rush by Bills quarterback Josh Allen was ruled short (it could be argued the Bills crossed the marker on third down). The Chiefs responded by scoring a touchdown on the next drive. And while the Bills did tie it up, the field was clearly tilted afterward.
This version of the Chiefs is being talked about like Gronk’s New England Patriots used to be talked about: favoritism from the refs but still difficult to beat. Gronk joked in a recent interview with Fox News Digital that even his quarterback Tom Brady got the favor of the whistle.
“It was Tom, but he deserved it at the time. He was an 18-year vet, and he took his punishment as a young buck during his first eight years in the league. Oh my lord, he used to get lit up. It was understandable he got calls,” Gronk said.
And perhaps the Chiefs have gotten that same benefit, Gronkowski added, saying the refs are “definitely … more lenient” toward the Chiefs.
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“It’s been shown throughout the regular season and extending into the playoffs,” Gronk quipped.
He later added, “I just feel like there’s something, like, maybe give them an extra call or two. Don’t make it too obvious, but make it a little obvious.”
Referee Carl Cheffers speaks to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during a break in the third quarter against the Houston Texans on Dec. 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)
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Gronkowski will get to see firsthand how much the refs actually favor the Chiefs, if at all, as he’ll be in New Orleans on behalf of Bounty to clean up the mess that comes with dirty eating during Super Bowl Sunday.
“You can’t have football without wings, there’s no doubt about that. But you can’t have wings without Bounty,” Gronk said ahead of his trip to Bourbon Street, where there will be food aplenty.
His wingman, Saints legend Drew Brees, will try to show him the best wings in town, but he doesn’t think anything will beat his hometown Buffalo wings, similar to the Chiefs.
Gronkowski added that even though the Chiefs may have some help from the zebras, it’s “no excuse” for the Bills or anyone to fall short when they have their chances.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes talks to referee Clete Blakeman prior to the AFC Championship against the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)
“You have opportunities to beat them, you got to overcome all situations, and the Buffalo Bills need to make championship plays in championship moments, and they didn’t come through. You got to make plays in order to beat the Chiefs, and you can’t blame it on the refs,” Gronk continued.
“It doesn’t matter, you still got to beat the Chiefs, and you still got to come through with big plays at the end of the game in order to beat them, and no team has done that yet.”
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Gronk won four Super Bowls in his career, but with a Kansas City win on Feb. 9, this era of Chiefs will have matched him.
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Rob Gronkowski, former NFL tight end and current analyst, is not holding back when it comes to his thoughts on the officiating in the NFL. In a recent interview, Gronkowski took aim at the league’s officials, accusing them of showing favoritism towards the Kansas City Chiefs.Gronkowski pointed to several instances during the Chiefs’ recent games where he felt the officiating was biased in their favor. He cited missed calls, questionable penalties, and overall inconsistency in the way the game was being officiated.
“It’s clear to me that the officials have a bias towards the Chiefs,” Gronkowski said. “I’ve seen too many calls go their way, too many missed calls against them. It’s not fair to the other teams in the league who are playing by the rules and not getting the same treatment.”
Gronkowski’s comments have sparked a debate among fans and analysts alike, with some agreeing with his assessment and others dismissing it as sour grapes. Regardless, it’s clear that Gronkowski is not afraid to speak his mind when it comes to the integrity of the game.
As the NFL continues to address concerns about officiating and fairness, Gronkowski’s comments serve as a reminder that even former players are paying close attention to how the game is being officiated. Only time will tell if the league takes any action in response to Gronkowski’s accusations.
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ICE conducts Lowcountry sweeps, arrest alleged gang members in Goose Creek
LOWCOUNTRY, S.C. (WCIV) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and Homeland Security Investigations agents from Charlotte conducted sweeps in the Lowcountry Friday, locating and arresting individuals they say are “illegal criminal aliens.”
Though law enforcement reports from these arrests have not yet been released, Enforcement and Removal Operations’ Atlanta posted on ‘X’ stating that they were assisting agents in Charleston. The agency said they arrested undocumented migrants who are members of the gang Tren de Aragua and were dealing fentanyl.
Rep. Nancy Mace said she was on a ride-along with ICE in the Lowcountry today, however, it is unclear which locations she visited. According to Mace, the alleged Tren de Aragua gang members were arrested in Goose Creek.
“The criminal illegal alien ICE apprehended this morning was staying in my hometown of Goose Creek. They’re everywhere. They’re dangerous. And they need to be deported,” Mace stated in a post she made to ‘X’.
READ MORE | Sullivan’s Island Police probe possible criminal actions after video shows racial taunts
News 4 contacted multiple local law enforcement agencies for comment including the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, Goose Creek Police Department and ICE.
“The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office collaboratively works with our local, state and federal partners on a daily basis to keep the citizens of Dorchester County,” The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “We have nothing further to add at this time.”
The Goose Creek Police Department was not given advanced notification of the raid, Chief LJ Roscoe said in a statement.
“It was reported to me, after the fact, that ICE was at the location serving a warrant. The Goose Creek Police Department was not given information in advance that ICE was going to be at the address, however, we were notified once they needed help,” Roscoe said. “They resolved the issue prior to our arrival, so no one from Goose Creek Police Department was involved or on scene.”
Immigration enforcement has been a primary objective of President Donald Trump’s second administration. Since taking office, Trump has carried out 21 executive actions to overhaul the U.S. immigration system.
The Trump administration is demanding at least 1,800 arrests per day from ICE — setting a quota of 75 busts minimum for each of the agency’s 25 offices, according to reports from the New York Post.
His predecessor Joe Biden carried out an average of 311 immigration deportations daily, according to ICE, mostly individuals who had committed crimes.
It was reported on Jan. 27 that Immigration authorities made close to 1,200 arrests in just one day with nearly half of those detained not possessing criminal records, meaning several people were arrested for only lacking legal authorization to remain in the United States.
Being undocumented is considered a civil offense, not a crime. But it’s considered a crime when an undocumented immigrant who was previously deported re-enters the United States without permission.
“We’re not just talking about deporting illegal aliens — we’re out here seeing it in action for ourselves – firsthand,” Mace said in a post on social media. “South Carolina needs bold leadership to support President Trump’s America First agenda deporting the bad guys and putting our people first.”
ICE, or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, recently conducted sweeps in the Lowcountry area, specifically in Goose Creek, resulting in the arrest of several alleged gang members.The operation targeted individuals who were believed to be affiliated with dangerous criminal gangs and involved in illegal activities. ICE agents worked closely with local law enforcement to identify and apprehend these individuals.
While ICE’s actions aim to enhance public safety and remove criminal elements from the community, the arrests have sparked controversy and debate over the agency’s tactics and the impact on immigrant communities.
Critics argue that the sweeps have instilled fear and uncertainty among immigrant populations, regardless of their involvement in criminal activities. They also raise concerns about racial profiling and the potential for civil rights violations during these operations.
On the other hand, supporters of ICE’s efforts point to the importance of cracking down on gang-related crime and protecting communities from violence and exploitation. They argue that law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to uphold the law and ensure public safety, regardless of individuals’ immigration status.
The arrests in Goose Creek serve as a reminder of the complex and contentious issues surrounding immigration enforcement and the role of federal agencies like ICE in local communities. As the debate continues, it is crucial to consider the implications of these actions on individuals and families caught up in the crossfire of immigration enforcement efforts.
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#ICE #conducts #Lowcountry #sweeps #arrest #alleged #gang #members #Goose #Creek
Brock Lesnar named in amended complaints against Vince McMahon; alleged details disclosed
New details have emerged in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against former WWE CEO Vince McMahon, and Brock Lesnar has been named. The complaints were amended to add the alleged details.
Brock Lesnar has been absent from WWE for quite some time. After the lawsuit emerged against Vince McMahon, he was alluded to be a part of the complaint, although he was not explicitly named. That has now changed, as Brock Lesnar has been named in the amended complaints.
Parts of the section where he is named can be seen below:
Janel Grant’s lawsuit has been amended (Credit: Jan 31 Grant – Amended Complaint Redline.pdf) Check out which wrestler EC3 finds cute RIGHT HERE
The entire complaint can be seen here.
The complaints include Vince McMahon allegedly offering explicit services from Janel Grant to Brock Lesnar to help him sign a new contract. Grant allegedly was also supposed to create explicit content for Lesnar, which Vince McMahon then supposedly sent to the star.
On top of that, Lesnar was seemingly named by McMahon when he allegedly messaged Grant, while talking about how part of the star’s new deal with the company seemingly included an encounter with her.
Among the many things, she had to send a video of herself in different acts as allegedly demanded by Lesnar. The complaints also state that McMahon tried to organize an encounter between Lesnar and Grant.
“’U have to take a flight to Greenville South Carolina this Monday. Even if it’s just to C Brock.’”
While on one occasion, their encounter was allegedly canceled due to Lesnar being too intoxicated, on another occasion, the statement says that a snowstorm got in the way of their meeting.
The complaint also contains several screenshots of text messages between McMahon and Grant, as well as others. It remains to be seen how the lawsuit concludes in the time to come.
Edited by Debottam Saha
In a shocking turn of events, former WWE champion Brock Lesnar has been named in amended complaints against WWE CEO Vince McMahon. The allegations against Lesnar are said to include undisclosed details that could potentially have a major impact on the wrestling industry.Rumors have been swirling for weeks about a rift between Lesnar and McMahon, but the full extent of their feud has now been brought to light in these amended complaints. Details of the allegations have not been released to the public, but sources close to the situation suggest that they could be damaging to both men.
Fans are left wondering what this could mean for Lesnar’s future in the WWE, as well as McMahon’s legacy in the industry. Will this scandal rock the wrestling world to its core, or will it prove to be just another bump in the road for these two larger-than-life personalities?
Stay tuned for further updates as this story continues to develop.
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- Vince McMahon
- Amended complaints
- Alleged details
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#Brock #Lesnar #named #amended #complaints #Vince #McMahon #alleged #details #disclosed
A$AP Rocky’s former friend testifies about alleged shooting as rapper faces decades in prison
Terrell Ephron, who is also known by his moniker A$AP Relli, took the witness stand on Tuesday in the assault trial of rapper A$AP Rocky and accused his former friend of firing a gun at him during a confrontation between the two in Hollywood in 2021.
Prosecutors questioned Ephron about the sequence of events after he testified about an argument during which the rapper, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, allegedly brandished a gun.
Asked why he would follow someone he knew had a gun, Ephron said that since it was a busy street in Hollywood, he believed Mayers definitely wouldn’t shoot him. Mayers and Ephron were childhood friends and both part of the Harlem-based rap collective A$AP Mob.
“[Rocky] turned around and then it was, like, BOOM!” Ephron said, recounting the alleged shooting. “The whole thing was like a movie, he kind of like pointed down and he shot the first shot.”
Ephron said that his hand was “grazed” by a bullet and felt “hot.” He said that he then grabbed one of their friends and stood behind him for cover and then Mayers allegedly fired again before leaving the scene.
Prosecutors concluded their questioning of Ephron on Wednesday, but he is expected back on the witness stand on Thursday to face cross-examination.
During opening arguments last week Mayers’ lead attorney Joe Tacopina told the members of the jury that they will hear from multiple witnesses during the trial who will testify that the gun seen in the surveillance video is “absolutely nothing more than a prop gun” that is often used in movies and music videos. Asked ahead of the trial if Mayers is expected to take the stand, Tacopina did not respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
Rakim Mayers, a.k.a. A$AP Rocky, listens to opening remarks by prosecuting attorney at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles, on Jan. 24, 2025. Genaro Molina/Pool via REUTERS
Genaro Molina, Pool via Reuters
Mayers – a Grammy-nominated hip-hop star and partner to pop star Rihanna – was charged on Aug. 15, 2022, with two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm for allegedly firing a handgun twice in the direction of the alleged victim during a confrontation. He pleaded not guilty. If convicted, the New York rapper could face up to 24 years in prison.
Rihanna, who shares two young sons with Mayers, made her first appearance during the trial when she attended the proceedings on Wednesday.
Ahead of jury selection last week, Mayers was offered a plea deal that included a 180-day jail term but he declined to accept it, prosecutors and his lead attorney confirmed to ABC News.
“He was offered a plea deal but is not interested because he is actually innocent,” Tacopina told ABC News.
A$AP Rocky walks into the courthouse for his upcoming trial alongside his attorney Joe Tacopina at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, on Jan. 8, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
A jury of seven women and five men was selected on Thursday and testimony began on Friday after prosecutors and Mayers’ defense team delivered their opening arguments.
Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec delivered the prosecution’s opening statements, arguing before the jury that a series of videos show that the rapper fired a gun at Ephron.
Prosecutors also presented the jury with a series of maps, identifying photos, a 911 call from the night of the incident and several videos captured by surveillance cameras in the area.
“This is not a complicated case. The evidence will show the events in this case were captured on surveillance video,” Przelomiec said.
In this Dec. 4, 2024, file photo, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky attend an event in New York.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images, FILE
In the defense’s opening statements, Tacopina claimed that the rapper is “innocent” and that Ephron is seeking financial gain.
“This is about one man’s lies, jealousy, and greed,” Tacopina told the jury, casting the case as “all about money.”
Ephron came forward as the victim of the alleged assault and filed a civil lawsuit on Aug. 10, 2022, accusing Mayers of assault, battery, inflicting emotional distress and negligence. He claimed that he was “stuck by bullet projectile/fragments” during the alleged assault.
Court records show that Mayers denied all wrongdoing in his response to the complaint.
Ephron also filed a defamation lawsuit on Sept. 19, 2023, naming Mayers and his legal team, including Tacopina. Court documents show that in their answer to the complaint, Mayers and his attorneys denied “each and every allegation” outlined in the suit.
According to court records, both cases are pending.
ABC News reached out to Tacopina and Ephron’s attorney Jamal Tooson for further comment.
A$AP Rocky’s former friend took the stand today to testify about the alleged shooting that could land the rapper behind bars for decades. The friend, who has chosen to remain anonymous, detailed the events that led up to the incident and painted a chilling picture of the violence that unfolded that night.According to the friend’s testimony, A$AP Rocky and his entourage were involved in a heated altercation with a group of individuals outside a nightclub. Tensions quickly escalated, and shots were fired, resulting in multiple injuries and one fatality.
The friend claimed that A$AP Rocky was seen brandishing a weapon during the altercation and may have fired the fatal shot. While the rapper has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charges, the testimony from his former friend paints a damning picture of his involvement in the incident.
As A$AP Rocky’s trial continues, the stakes are high for the rapper, who could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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A$AP Rocky, former friend, shooting, rapper, prison, testimony, trial, legal case, allegations, hip hop, music industry, celebrity news, court proceedings, defense, prosecution, legal system
#AAP #Rockys #friend #testifies #alleged #shooting #rapper #faces #decades #prisonJulie Stewart-Binks on a career derailed by alleged sexual assault: ‘What could my life have been?’
Last week, Julie Stewart-Binks sat in an empty lounge on the rooftop of a hotel near her apartment in New York City. She is about to watch a clip from her time as a Fox Sports host and reporter. It is a moment that she thinks about often, but one that she has never wanted to relive in full. She hits play on the video, then her hands jerk back toward her chest, as if bracing for a blow.
In the clip, Stewart-Binks, then a 28-year-old Fox Sports 1 on-air personality, is on the set of a pop-up show – “Jason Whitlock’s House Party By the Bay” – for the 2016 Super Bowl in San Francisco. The set is meant to evoke a Super Bowl party. Red Solo cups. Beers chilling in an ice bucket on the coffee table. Whitlock and the day’s guest – New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski – are behind a desk; Stewart-Binks is on a gray couch flanking them.
The group is discussing Gronkowski’s disclosure that he moonlighted as a stripper in college. Stewart-Binks then says: “If you have a chance to make some more money, using maybe me as an example, do you want to show us a little ‘Magic Mike?’” (A reference to the 2012 movie about male exotic dancers.) Gronkowski, a little surprised, asks Stewart-Binks if she wants a lap dance, to which she replies: “Yeah.” Gronkowski seems to be stalling. He asks about music and remarks: “Where are your friends? I would need, like, a bachelorette party?” Stewart-Binks keeps urging him on, as does Whitlock, and Gronkowski eventually moves from behind the desk, over to the couch. He dances briefly in front of Stewart-Binks, then straddles her and thrusts his hips toward her, grinding on her as the cameras roll. Stewart-Binks, laughing, takes out some crumpled dollar bills and hands them to Gronkowski. The dancing lasts about six seconds.
As she watches the clip, Stewart-Binks’ face reddens and her chest breaks out in hives. She begins to cry. “I will spend my entire life trying to make up for this,” she says, wiping away tears with a shaking hand. “I will die trying to make up for this moment that’s clearly not who I am.”
The Gronkowski segment was the defining moment in Stewart-Binks’ four years at FS1 (2013-16). As the clip spread across the internet, FS1 was derided as a “circus act,” but Stewart-Binks took the brunt of the criticism. She was accused of setting back the efforts of women working in sports journalism and betraying feminism entirely. Some of the criticism came from friends and colleagues.
Now, she wants those critics to know why she participated in the segment, and providing that context requires sharing what she says happened to her in the days beforehand.
On Friday, Stewart-Binks, 37, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Fox and Charlie Dixon, an executive vice president and head of content at Fox Sports and FS1, the company’s sports network. In that lawsuit, she alleges that about a week before the Gronkowski segment she was sexually assaulted by Dixon during a meeting at a hotel that he organized under the auspices of talking about her Super Bowl week duties. Dixon is also a defendant in a lawsuit filed earlier this month by former FS1 hairstylist Noushin Faraji. In Faraji’s complaint, she claimed that “executives and talent were allowed to physically and verbally abuse workers with impunity,” and she alleged that Dixon groped her at a co-worker’s birthday party in January 2017, among other allegations.
Dixon did not respond to text, voice and email messages seeking comment. Fox Sports said in a statement: “These allegations are from over eight years ago. At the time, we promptly hired a third-party firm to investigate and addressed the matter based on their findings.”
Days after the alleged assault, when producers in San Francisco told her that FS1 wanted a viral moment out of Gronkowski, she said she never considered the implications of the stunt, only what would happen if she refused with Dixon watching from the set. “I was in a really f—ed-up place that I could not tell people about,” she said.
In her complaint, Stewart-Binks said she detailed the allegations against Dixon to a Fox human resources official in 2017 but that Fox “egregiously made the deliberate decision to protect Dixon and allow a sexual predator to remain an executive at Fox for nearly a decade.”
“They knew and didn’t do anything about it,” Stewart-Binks said in an interview earlier this month. “It meant they didn’t care about the damage done to me and how it affected others.” She then added: “This has been accepted for so long. I’m sitting here wanting it to be different.”
Fox Sports executive vice president Charlie Dixon in 2018. (Travis P. Ball / Getty Images)
Stewart-Binks grew up in Toronto, and her mother was a broadcast reporter and her father worked in the medical device industry. She played right wing on a boys’ house league hockey team and also trained as a figure skater and a cellist.
She attended Queen’s University and obtained degrees in both drama and physical and health education but developed a passion for broadcasting and later got a master’s degree in international broadcast journalism from what is now known as City St George’s, University of London.
Her entry into sports journalism in Canada was scrappy and unglamorous. She covered Ontario Hockey League games on a volunteer basis, staying at a friend’s house in Kingston, then taking a bus to Niagara, where she’d bunk with her grandmother in a retirement community. Later, as a reporter and anchor for CTV in Regina, Saskatchewan, she drove across the Canadian prairies shooting and editing sports television packages on curling and anchoring the nightly newscasts. To save money, she lived out of a friend’s basement.
In 2013, she was plucked out of relative obscurity by an agent at Octagon (the late John Ferriter) and flown to Los Angeles to meet with Fox Sports executives and screen test for the launch of FS1. She was hired by the fledgling network as an update anchor and went on to host “Fox Soccer Daily.” She also worked as a sideline reporter for Major League Soccer, hosted FS1’s coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics and covered the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She spent 65 days on the road that summer and was tabbed as one of Awful Announcing’s “Rising Stars.”
But, according to her complaint, by early 2016, her allies within FS1 — executives like Scott Ackerson and Rick Jaffe — had departed and a new regime — Dixon and fellow executive Jamie Horowitz — were in place with a new vision for the network.
Stewart-Binks still liked her job. She got to cover soccer and hockey – sports she loved – and work as an anchor and a host. She was part of a tight-knit group that helped launch FS1. But her future was uncertain. The network had until April 1, 2016, to pick up a one-year option in her contract. If it did not, she would lose a high-profile job. She felt she needed to show the Dixon-Horowitz regime that she was a versatile and dynamic talent.
When Whitlock requested her to be a part of his show during the 2016 Super Bowl week, she felt she had an opening to do that. And then Dixon asked her to come to his hotel, writing that he wanted to “go over expectation(s)” before a group meeting the next day, according to her complaint. After receiving that text, Stewart-Binks shared her excitement with a friend about getting face time with her boss and curated her outfit for the meeting – a suede jacket and designer heels – hoping to convey style and professionalism.
The lawsuit sets out in detail how they met at the bar at a hotel in Marina del Rey, Calif. She ordered a single glass of white wine. Dixon asked what she had been told about her role on Whitlock’s show during Super Bowl week. He then told her he didn’t think she should be going to the Super Bowl at all and that she was ill-suited to host and wasn’t funny or interesting or talented enough to draw in viewers.
In an interview, Stewart-Binks said she was shocked and confused by Dixon’s remarks. Why was he denigrating her so strongly, and, just before she went on an important assignment for the network? She tried to stay calm, even when he remarked, according to the complaint, that the only way anyone would be willing to watch her was if she “got up on this bar and took your top off” and then added: “You’re not hot enough to be a hot girl on TV.” She said in her interview with The Athletic that she responded to Dixon: “I didn’t get my master’s degree in ‘hot girl.’”
Stewart-Binks said Dixon’s tone then changed. He stopped criticizing her and asked about her professional aspirations. The complaint states that Dixon then ordered two beers from the bar and urged her to come to his room and drink them, adding that he had a great view from his balcony. She didn’t think it was a good idea, she said in her interview and in the complaint, but she felt she couldn’t say no to her boss.
“You have autonomy over yourself to say ‘no’ and leave. But you don’t, and you say ‘yes’ because he held the power to everything,” Stewart-Binks told The Athletic.
The legal complaint describes Dixon’s shirts – colorful tees with slogans and pictures – laid out on one of the beds in his room. Dixon suggested they step out on the balcony. Once outside, Dixon, according to the complaint, “swiftly pushed her against the wall of the hotel and pinned her arms to her side. With her arms forcefully held down and his body pressed against hers, Dixon tried to force his tongue into her mouth.” Stewart-Binks’ mouth remained shut but Dixon “ignored her, continuing to press against her body and lick her closed mouth. While keeping one of her arms pinned, he moved his other arm from pressing her upper elbow against the wall to her body and towards her chest. Stewart-Binks seized the moment of partial freedom to push him away, say ‘get off of me’ and rapidly leave the hotel room.”
Once in her car, she called the same friend with whom she had earlier shared her excitement about meeting with Dixon. “I remember getting a very upset phone call,” the friend told The Athletic. “It was the overall disappointment of ‘I can’t believe an executive did this.’” Stewart-Binks later called her mother, according to the complaint, and the two women concluded that it would imperil her career if she spoke out about what Dixon had allegedly done.
Stewart-Binks went back to work frightened about the implications of fending off Dixon and also what his remarks about her lack of talent meant for her career going forward. At a meeting the day after the alleged assault, she said Dixon ignored her. She believed her future was “very much hanging in the balance” as she arrived in San Francisco for Super Bowl week. Her anxiety was ramped up by producers there who were hell-bent to “make a moment” that would garner attention, she said.
“I was told … that I was not capable of being able to do a moment like this on television. And that I was not interesting, funny, talented, smart. And so I felt the need to prove that I was all in, and that I was not scared to do something like (the Gronkowski stunt). Had I not (done it), I would have felt like I failed and that I would have confirmed what (Dixon) told me.”
The reaction to her role in the Gronkowski segment surprised and stung her, she said in an interview. People she knew in the industry, some whom she considered friends, were among those voicing their disappointment with her choice to participate. Her co-worker and friend, Katie Nolan, told GQ that she disapproved of the bit. (Nolan later apologized to Stewart-Binks in a podcast and clarified her remarks.) Stewart-Binks recalled receiving a text message from Grant Wahl, the late Sports Illustrated soccer writer she admired, that read: “That’s not who you are.”
Fox promoted the Gronkowski segment on social media and elsewhere. The network got its viral moment. But when the backlash grew strong enough, Fox stopped, and the same men in the production meeting eager to “make a moment” went largely silent. Stewart-Binks’ bosses didn’t address the incident at length until six weeks later; Horowitz said at that time that he was supportive of Stewart-Binks for doing a “fun bit” and thought Gronkowski “maybe … took it a half step too far.”
In her lawsuit, Stewart-Binks said the network instructed her not to comment on the incident, and her agency, CAA, advised her to ride it out. Less than two months after the Super Bowl, Stewart-Binks was informed that Fox would not pick up her contract option with one executive telling her that there was “nothing for her to do here,” according to the complaint.
According to the complaint, Stewart-Binks was contacted by a Fox human resources official in June 2017 and asked about Horowitz’s behavior when Stewart-Binks worked at Fox Sports. Stewart-Binks didn’t have anything substantive to share about Horowitz, but the complaint states that she disclosed to the HR official what Dixon allegedly said to her in their January 2016 meeting and what allegedly happened in his hotel room afterward.
Horowitz was fired following the probe, but Dixon remained at the company.
After Fox, Stewart-Binks worked as a part-time soccer reporter for ESPN, a rinkside reporter for NHL on TNT, a host for BetRivers Sportsbook Network, did stand-up comedy, was a host for the CBC’s 2024 Olympic coverage, among other jobs. She’s continued to scrap to find work but believes the Gronkowski segment has impacted her ability to get other jobs.
When the Faraji lawsuit against Fox and Dixon was filed, Stewart-Binks received text messages from people she had told about her interactions with Dixon. On page eight of the 42-page complaint, there is a reference to a host who reported Dixon to the company. She believed that Faraji, with whom she worked at FS1, was referencing her. Reading about what Faraji allegedly endured was a “tipping point,” Stewart-Binks said. “I didn’t want to hold onto it anymore.”
Stewart-Binks said she has experienced bouts of self-doubt since leaving Fox Sports, Dixon’s criticism of her abilities still ringing in her ears. “I had a different view of what my life would be like than what it is. And I’m very grateful for everything I have. But sometimes I think … well, what could my life have been had this not happened?”
(Top photo: Hatnim Lee for The Athletic)
Julie Stewart-Binks on a career derailed by alleged sexual assault: ‘What could my life have been?’In a recent interview, sports journalist Julie Stewart-Binks opened up about how her career was derailed by an alleged sexual assault that occurred early in her career. Stewart-Binks, who had been on the fast track to success in the sports media industry, revealed that the trauma of the assault led to a downward spiral that took years to overcome.
Stewart-Binks shared that the assault occurred while she was working at a major sports network, and that she felt pressured to keep quiet about it in order to protect her career. The emotional toll of the assault caused her to struggle with depression and anxiety, and she eventually left the industry altogether.
Reflecting on her career and the opportunities that were lost due to the assault, Stewart-Binks expressed a sense of regret and sadness. She wondered aloud, “What could my life have been if this hadn’t happened to me?”
Despite the setbacks she faced, Stewart-Binks has found a way to rebuild her life and pursue new opportunities outside of the sports media industry. She has become an advocate for survivors of sexual assault, using her platform to raise awareness and support others who have experienced similar traumas.
Stewart-Binks’ story is a powerful reminder of the devastating impact that sexual assault can have on the lives and careers of survivors. It serves as a call to action for the industry to do more to support and protect its employees, and to create a culture where survivors feel safe coming forward and seeking justice.
As Stewart-Binks continues to heal and move forward with her life, she remains hopeful that her story will inspire others to speak out and seek help. She is determined to use her voice to create positive change and to ensure that no one else has to endure the same struggles she faced.
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Julie Stewart-Binks, sexual assault, career derailment, Julie Stewart-Binks interview, career impact of sexual assault, women in sports journalism, #MeToo movement, overcoming adversity, sexual harassment in the workplace
#Julie #StewartBinks #career #derailed #alleged #sexual #assault #lifeJulie Stewart-Binks on a career derailed by alleged sexual assault: ‘What could my life have been?’
Last week, Julie Stewart-Binks sat in an empty lounge on the rooftop of a hotel near her apartment in New York City. She is about to watch a clip from her time as a Fox Sports host and reporter. It is a moment that she thinks about often, but one that she has never wanted to relive in full. She hits play on the video, then her hands jerk back toward her chest, as if bracing for a blow.
In the clip, Stewart-Binks, then a 28-year-old Fox Sports 1 on-air personality, is on the set of a pop-up show – “Jason Whitlock’s House Party By the Bay” – for the 2016 Super Bowl in San Francisco. The set is meant to evoke a Super Bowl party. Red Solo cups. Beers chilling in an ice bucket on the coffee table. Whitlock and the day’s guest – New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski – are behind a desk; Stewart-Binks is on a gray couch flanking them.
The group is discussing Gronkowski’s disclosure that he moonlighted as a stripper in college. Stewart-Binks then says: “If you have a chance to make some more money, using maybe me as an example, do you want to show us a little ‘Magic Mike?’” (A reference to the 2012 movie about male exotic dancers.) Gronkowski, a little surprised, asks Stewart-Binks if she wants a lap dance, to which she replies: “Yeah.” Gronkowski seems to be stalling. He asks about music and remarks: “Where are your friends? I would need, like, a bachelorette party?” Stewart-Binks keeps urging him on, as does Whitlock, and Gronkowski eventually moves from behind the desk, over to the couch. He dances briefly in front of Stewart-Binks, then straddles her and thrusts his hips toward her, grinding on her as the cameras roll. Stewart-Binks, laughing, takes out some crumpled dollar bills and hands them to Gronkowski. The dancing lasts about six seconds.
As she watches the clip, Stewart-Binks’ face reddens and her chest breaks out in hives. She begins to cry. “I will spend my entire life trying to make up for this,” she says, wiping away tears with a shaking hand. “I will die trying to make up for this moment that’s clearly not who I am.”
The Gronkowski segment was the defining moment in Stewart-Binks’ four years at FS1 (2013-16). As the clip spread across the internet, FS1 was derided as a “circus act,” but Stewart-Binks took the brunt of the criticism. She was accused of setting back the efforts of women working in sports journalism and betraying feminism entirely. Some of the criticism came from friends and colleagues.
Now, she wants those critics to know why she participated in the segment, and providing that context requires sharing what she says happened to her in the days beforehand.
On Friday, Stewart-Binks, 37, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Fox and Charlie Dixon, an executive vice president and head of content at Fox Sports and FS1, the company’s sports network. In that lawsuit, she alleges that about a week before the Gronkowski segment she was sexually assaulted by Dixon during a meeting at a hotel that he organized under the auspices of talking about her Super Bowl week duties. Dixon is also a defendant in a lawsuit filed earlier this month by former FS1 hairstylist Noushin Faraji. In Faraji’s complaint, she claimed that “executives and talent were allowed to physically and verbally abuse workers with impunity,” and she alleged that Dixon groped her at a co-worker’s birthday party in January 2017, among other allegations.
Dixon did not respond to text, voice and email messages seeking comment. Fox Sports said in a statement: “These allegations are from over eight years ago. At the time, we promptly hired a third-party firm to investigate and addressed the matter based on their findings.”
Days after the alleged assault, when producers in San Francisco told her that FS1 wanted a viral moment out of Gronkowski, she said she never considered the implications of the stunt, only what would happen if she refused with Dixon watching from the set. “I was in a really f—ed-up place that I could not tell people about,” she said.
In her complaint, Stewart-Binks said she detailed the allegations against Dixon to a Fox human resources official in 2017 but that Fox “egregiously made the deliberate decision to protect Dixon and allow a sexual predator to remain an executive at Fox for nearly a decade.”
“They knew and didn’t do anything about it,” Stewart-Binks said in an interview earlier this month. “It meant they didn’t care about the damage done to me and how it affected others.” She then added: “This has been accepted for so long. I’m sitting here wanting it to be different.”
Fox Sports executive vice president Charlie Dixon in 2018. (Travis P. Ball / Getty Images)
Stewart-Binks grew up in Toronto, and her mother was a broadcast reporter and her father worked in the medical device industry. She played right wing on a boys’ house league hockey team and also trained as a figure skater and a cellist.
She attended Queen’s University and obtained degrees in both drama and physical and health education but developed a passion for broadcasting and later got a master’s degree in international broadcast journalism from what is now known as City St George’s, University of London.
Her entry into sports journalism in Canada was scrappy and unglamorous. She covered Ontario Hockey League games on a volunteer basis, staying at a friend’s house in Kingston, then taking a bus to Niagara, where she’d bunk with her grandmother in a retirement community. Later, as a reporter and anchor for CTV in Regina, Saskatchewan, she drove across the Canadian prairies shooting and editing sports television packages on curling and anchoring the nightly newscasts. To save money, she lived out of a friend’s basement.
In 2013, she was plucked out of relative obscurity by an agent at Octagon (the late John Ferriter) and flown to Los Angeles to meet with Fox Sports executives and screen test for the launch of FS1. She was hired by the fledgling network as an update anchor and went on to host “Fox Soccer Daily.” She also worked as a sideline reporter for Major League Soccer, hosted FS1’s coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics and covered the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She spent 65 days on the road that summer and was tabbed as one of Awful Announcing’s “Rising Stars.”
But, according to her complaint, by early 2016, her allies within FS1 — executives like Scott Ackerson and Rick Jaffe — had departed and a new regime — Dixon and fellow executive Jamie Horowitz — were in place with a new vision for the network.
Stewart-Binks still liked her job. She got to cover soccer and hockey – sports she loved – and work as an anchor and a host. She was part of a tight-knit group that helped launch FS1. But her future was uncertain. The network had until April 1, 2016, to pick up a one-year option in her contract. If it did not, she would lose a high-profile job. She felt she needed to show the Dixon-Horowitz regime that she was a versatile and dynamic talent.
When Whitlock requested her to be a part of his show during the 2016 Super Bowl week, she felt she had an opening to do that. And then Dixon asked her to come to his hotel, writing that he wanted to “go over expectation(s)” before a group meeting the next day, according to her complaint. After receiving that text, Stewart-Binks shared her excitement with a friend about getting face time with her boss and curated her outfit for the meeting – a suede jacket and designer heels – hoping to convey style and professionalism.
The lawsuit sets out in detail how they met at the bar at a hotel in Marina del Rey, Calif. She ordered a single glass of white wine. Dixon asked what she had been told about her role on Whitlock’s show during Super Bowl week. He then told her he didn’t think she should be going to the Super Bowl at all and that she was ill-suited to host and wasn’t funny or interesting or talented enough to draw in viewers.
In an interview, Stewart-Binks said she was shocked and confused by Dixon’s remarks. Why was he denigrating her so strongly, and, just before she went on an important assignment for the network? She tried to stay calm, even when he remarked, according to the complaint, that the only way anyone would be willing to watch her was if she “got up on this bar and took your top off” and then added: “You’re not hot enough to be a hot girl on TV.” She said in her interview with The Athletic that she responded to Dixon: “I didn’t get my master’s degree in ‘hot girl.’”
Stewart-Binks said Dixon’s tone then changed. He stopped criticizing her and asked about her professional aspirations. The complaint states that Dixon then ordered two beers from the bar and urged her to come to his room and drink them, adding that he had a great view from his balcony. She didn’t think it was a good idea, she said in her interview and in the complaint, but she felt she couldn’t say no to her boss.
“You have autonomy over yourself to say ‘no’ and leave. But you don’t, and you say ‘yes’ because he held the power to everything,” Stewart-Binks told The Athletic.
The legal complaint describes Dixon’s shirts – colorful tees with slogans and pictures – laid out on one of the beds in his room. Dixon suggested they step out on the balcony. Once outside, Dixon, according to the complaint, “swiftly pushed her against the wall of the hotel and pinned her arms to her side. With her arms forcefully held down and his body pressed against hers, Dixon tried to force his tongue into her mouth.” Stewart-Binks’ mouth remained shut but Dixon “ignored her, continuing to press against her body and lick her closed mouth. While keeping one of her arms pinned, he moved his other arm from pressing her upper elbow against the wall to her body and towards her chest. Stewart-Binks seized the moment of partial freedom to push him away, say ‘get off of me’ and rapidly leave the hotel room.”
Once in her car, she called the same friend with whom she had earlier shared her excitement about meeting with Dixon. “I remember getting a very upset phone call,” the friend told The Athletic. “It was the overall disappointment of ‘I can’t believe an executive did this.’” Stewart-Binks later called her mother, according to the complaint, and the two women concluded that it would imperil her career if she spoke out about what Dixon had allegedly done.
Stewart-Binks went back to work frightened about the implications of fending off Dixon and also what his remarks about her lack of talent meant for her career going forward. At a meeting the day after the alleged assault, she said Dixon ignored her. She believed her future was “very much hanging in the balance” as she arrived in San Francisco for Super Bowl week. Her anxiety was ramped up by producers there who were hell-bent to “make a moment” that would garner attention, she said.
“I was told … that I was not capable of being able to do a moment like this on television. And that I was not interesting, funny, talented, smart. And so I felt the need to prove that I was all in, and that I was not scared to do something like (the Gronkowski stunt). Had I not (done it), I would have felt like I failed and that I would have confirmed what (Dixon) told me.”
The reaction to her role in the Gronkowski segment surprised and stung her, she said in an interview. People she knew in the industry, some whom she considered friends, were among those voicing their disappointment with her choice to participate. Her co-worker and friend, Katie Nolan, told GQ that she disapproved of the bit. (Nolan later apologized to Stewart-Binks in a podcast and clarified her remarks.) Stewart-Binks recalled receiving a text message from Grant Wahl, the late Sports Illustrated soccer writer she admired, that read: “That’s not who you are.”
Fox promoted the Gronkowski segment on social media and elsewhere. The network got its viral moment. But when the backlash grew strong enough, Fox stopped, and the same men in the production meeting eager to “make a moment” went largely silent. Stewart-Binks’ bosses didn’t address the incident at length until six weeks later; Horowitz said at that time that he was supportive of Stewart-Binks for doing a “fun bit” and thought Gronkowski “maybe … took it a half step too far.”
In her lawsuit, Stewart-Binks said the network instructed her not to comment on the incident, and her agency, CAA, advised her to ride it out. Less than two months after the Super Bowl, Stewart-Binks was informed that Fox would not pick up her contract option with one executive telling her that there was “nothing for her to do here,” according to the complaint.
According to the complaint, Stewart-Binks was contacted by a Fox human resources official in June 2017 and asked about Horowitz’s behavior when Stewart-Binks worked at Fox Sports. Stewart-Binks didn’t have anything substantive to share about Horowitz, but the complaint states that she disclosed to the HR official what Dixon allegedly said to her in their January 2016 meeting and what allegedly happened in his hotel room afterward.
Horowitz was fired following the probe, but Dixon remained at the company.
After Fox, Stewart-Binks worked as a part-time soccer reporter for ESPN, a rinkside reporter for NHL on TNT, a host for BetRivers Sportsbook Network, did stand-up comedy, was a host for the CBC’s 2024 Olympic coverage, among other jobs. She’s continued to scrap to find work but believes the Gronkowski segment has impacted her ability to get other jobs.
When the Faraji lawsuit against Fox and Dixon was filed, Stewart-Binks received text messages from people she had told about her interactions with Dixon. On page eight of the 42-page complaint, there is a reference to a host who reported Dixon to the company. She believed that Faraji, with whom she worked at FS1, was referencing her. Reading about what Faraji allegedly endured was a “tipping point,” Stewart-Binks said. “I didn’t want to hold onto it anymore.”
Stewart-Binks said she has experienced bouts of self-doubt since leaving Fox Sports, Dixon’s criticism of her abilities still ringing in her ears. “I had a different view of what my life would be like than what it is. And I’m very grateful for everything I have. But sometimes I think … well, what could my life have been had this not happened?”
(Top photo: Hatnim Lee for The Athletic)
Julie Stewart-Binks on a career derailed by alleged sexual assault: ‘What could my life have been?’In a recent interview, sports broadcaster Julie Stewart-Binks opened up about the alleged sexual assault that derailed her promising career in sports journalism. Stewart-Binks, who was once a rising star in the industry, revealed that the traumatic experience not only affected her personal life but also had a profound impact on her professional trajectory.
“What could my life have been if I hadn’t been a victim of sexual assault?” Stewart-Binks pondered in the emotional interview. “I often find myself wondering about the opportunities I missed out on, the relationships I could have formed, and the projects I could have been a part of if it weren’t for that one horrific incident.”
Stewart-Binks, known for her work on ESPN and Fox Sports, detailed how the assault not only caused her to question her self-worth but also led to a loss of confidence in her abilities as a journalist. “I was constantly second-guessing myself, doubting my instincts, and feeling like I didn’t belong in this industry anymore,” she shared.
Despite the challenges she has faced, Stewart-Binks remains determined to not let the trauma define her. She continues to speak out about sexual assault and advocate for survivors, using her platform to raise awareness and support those who have gone through similar experiences.
As she looks towards the future, Stewart-Binks hopes to reclaim her voice and rebuild her career in sports journalism. “I refuse to let one person’s actions dictate the course of my life,” she declared. “I am stronger now, and I am ready to show the world what I am capable of.”
Julie Stewart-Binks’ story serves as a powerful reminder of the devastating impact of sexual assault on individuals and the importance of supporting survivors in their healing journey. Her resilience and determination to overcome adversity are an inspiration to us all.
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Sherri Papini’s Alleged Ex Shauhin Davari Joins Survivor 48 Cast
Shauhin Davari, who allegedly dated Sherri Papini before her kidnapping hoax, is now a cast member on Survivor.
Davari, 38, is one of the season 48 contestants, with the full cast list being announced by CBS on Wednesday, January 29. He is best known for past comments about dating Papini, 42, before she made headlines for a kidnapping hoax. Papini disappeared on November 2, 2016 after going for a jog in her California neighborhood and resurfaced 22 days later, which is when she claimed she had been beaten and branded by captors.
As new details emerged following her return, Papini was ultimately arrested in 2022 for orchestrating her abduction. She pleaded guilty to a federal judge later that year and was sentenced to 18 months in jail for committing mail fraud and lying to a federal officer about being kidnapped.
“[I am] so sorry for the pain I’ve caused my family, my friends, all the good people who needlessly suffered because of my story and those who worked so hard to try to help me,” Papini said in a statement at the time about how “deeply ashamed” she was of her actions. “I will work the rest of my life to make amends for what I have done.”
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA Sherri Papini‘s life drastically changed after she claimed to have been abducted — only to get arrested for faking her own kidnapping. Before her legal drama, Sherri lived in Redding, California, with then-husband Keith Papini and their two kids: Tyler and Violet. Keith reported Sherri missing in November 2016 and the wide-spread […]
Papini was also ordered to pay more than $300,000 in restitution for losses incurred by the California Victim Compensation Board, the Social Security Administration, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. She was released from prison in August 2023.
Sherri Papini ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGADavari, for his part, called Papini a “compulsive liar” while discussing their alleged romance in 2022. (Papini didn’t address his comments at the time.)
“I was like, there’s no way [she was kidnapped]. She’s fine. I promise you, she’s fine. There’s just no chance that she got kidnapped,” he told Inside Edition. “She would not talk to you for three or four days, and then all of a sudden there’d be some fantastical story about what happened.”
Davari spoke out to shut down rumors he was the ex-boyfriend Papini planned the hoax with, who turned out to be James Reyes. The case recently became a topic of conversation again when Hulu released Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini in June 2024.
Sherri’s now-ex-husband Keith Papini and several of her family members and loved ones participated in the docuseries. Law enforcement also broke down how they ultimately pieced together the clues that pointed to a kidnapping hoax.
One month after Perfect Wife started streaming, Investigation Discovery announced an upcoming docuseries in which Sherri will speak out for the first time about the controversy. The show will debut in 2025.
“Sherri Papini drew worldwide attention when she went missing and then again, when she returned. While many perspectives have been told, there is one point of view that the world hasn’t heard and that is from Sherri herself,” President of ID Jason Sarlanis said in a statement in June 2024. “Investigation Discovery will present a new side of Sherri Papini’s case — told by her in her own words.”
In a shocking turn of events, Sherri Papini’s alleged ex-husband Shauhin Davari has joined the cast of Survivor 48. Davari, who has been in the spotlight recently due to his connection to the mysterious disappearance of Papini in 2016, is sure to bring some drama to the reality TV show.Fans of Survivor are already buzzing about Davari’s inclusion in the cast, with many speculating about how his past relationship with Papini will play out on the show. Will Davari use this platform to clear his name and tell his side of the story? Or will his presence only add fuel to the fire surrounding Papini’s disappearance?
One thing is for certain – Survivor 48 is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing seasons yet. Stay tuned for more updates on Shauhin Davari’s journey on the island and how his past with Sherri Papini will impact the game.
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#Sherri #Papinis #Alleged #Shauhin #Davari #Joins #Survivor #CastWill NFL, Ravens punish Justin Tucker after alleged inappropriate behavior?
As allegations emerge that Ravens kicker Justin Tucker engaged in inappropriate behavior with six massage therapists in the Baltimore area, any possible punishment could depend on what a potential NFL investigation finds and how team officials interpret a long-held “zero-tolerance” personnel policy.
Six massage therapists at four high-end spas and wellness centers told The Banner that Tucker, one of the Ravens’ most popular players and perhaps the NFL’s greatest kicker ever, repeatedly exposed his genitals and, in two instances, touched therapists with his penis. Two of the spas said they banned him from returning.
Lawyers for Tucker denied the allegations, calling them “false” and “spurious.” The attorneys, Thomas A. Clare and Steven J. Harrison of the firm Clare Locke, said Tucker had never been banned from the two spas and that all of the therapists’ claims about his behavior were speculative and unfair.
The Ravens and the NFL declined to comment.
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Under the league’s personal conduct policy, players can be disciplined if they’re found to have engaged in conduct that poses a “genuine danger” to the safety and well-being of others or that “undermines or puts at risk the integrity of the NFL.”
The NFL prescribes a six-game unpaid suspension for more serious violations of the policy, including “sexual assault involving physical force or committed against someone incapable of giving consent.” In the league’s inquiry into allegations of misconduct against quarterback Deshaun Watson, an investigator for the NFL defined assault in 2022 as “unwanted sexual contact with another person.”
Factors such as a “pattern of conduct” and “offenses that involve planning” could also increase the punishment.
Because the NFL’s investigative process can take months, if not longer, Tucker’s immediate future could be left to Ravens officials. The allegations could pose a unique test of a decade-old team policy.
In 2022, Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked about Watson’s six-game suspension following accusations of sexual misconduct with massage therapists.
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Harbaugh referred to the Ravens’ zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence, which the organization put in place after running back Ray Rice was shown on video punching a woman who is now his wife in an elevator in 2014. The NFL initially suspended Rice for two games, but the Ravens released Rice and the NFL indefinitely suspended him on the same day video of the punch was published by TMZ. Nearly three months later, Rice won an appeal of the suspension and was reinstated.
“I respect what [Ravens owner] Steve Bisciotti has created here, and [team president emeritus] Dick Cass, really, almost 10 years ago,” Harbaugh said. “Basically, we’re kind of zero tolerance.”
Cass told reporters in 2015, after a series of offseason arrests unrelated to domestic violence, that the Ravens would “look at each case individually” and that they were “still going to be willing to take second chances on people if they deserve it.” The Ravens declined to comment on several questions related to The Banner’s investigation, including whether Tucker’s alleged conduct violated team policy.
Harbaugh added in 2022 while discussing Watson: “You have to know the truth, you have to try to understand the circumstances, but we’ve stayed away from that particular situation. When we draft players, when we sign them as free agents, we just haven’t dealt with it. That’s Steve’s decision, and I’m glad that we have that policy.”
In January 2024, before the team’s playoff run, the Ravens signed running back Dalvin Cook to their practice squad and, later, their 53-man roster. At the time, Cook was facing allegations from an ex-girlfriend that she was the victim of assault, battery and false imprisonment at Cook’s Minnesota home in 2020. Cook later said he was the “victim in this situation,” and this past April, he settled the lawsuit with his ex-girlfriend.
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Also in January 2024, Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers was the subject of an investigation into an alleged domestic assault but was not suspended by the Ravens.
Baltimore County Police closed their investigation into Flowers without charges in February, and the NFL later found that there was “insufficient evidence” that Flowers violated the league’s personal conduct policy. He remained eligible to participate in all team activities throughout the investigation.
In March, Ravens team president Sashi Brown was asked whether the team had changed its zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence.
“No change in terms of our philosophy and our approach,” Brown said. “Very hard circumstances, always complicated for us, for the league that investigates it, for law enforcement. And we’re not at a point yet … where there’s been anything [regarding Flowers] to act on. … And if and when we get there, we’ll manage. But no change on it.”
The timelines of recent NFL investigations into potential violations of the league’s personal conduct policy show the process can take months.
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Buffalo Bills defensive end Von Miller’s four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which was announced in October, came 11 months after allegations that he assaulted his pregnant girlfriend.
In 2018, the NFL levied a three-game suspension on then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston seven months after BuzzFeed News reported that he’d allegedly grabbed a female Uber driver’s crotch.
Watson’s initial six-game ban in 2022, which later turned into an 11-game suspension as part of a settlement with Watson’s representatives, the NFL Players Association and the league, came nearly 17 months after the first of over two dozen lawsuits were filed against the then-Houston Texans quarterback. Watson settled almost all the lawsuits.
Watson was found to have violated three provisions of the league’s personal conduct policy by engaging in unwanted sexual contact with another person, endangering the safety and well-being of another person and undermining the league’s integrity.
Watson issued an apology and said: ”I take accountability for the decisions I made.”
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Watson was never officially suspended by Houston after allegations first emerged, but he did not play in 2021 because of “non-injury” reasons. In March 2022, he was traded to Cleveland and signed a five-year, $230 million deal, the largest guaranteed contract in NFL history.
The NFL revised its personal conduct policy following Watson’s suspension to allow for more serious penalties in cases of nonviolent sexual conduct. Under the league’s new policy, a second violation of offenses involving sexual assault with “threats or coercion” would result in banishment from the NFL.
Tucker, a five-time first-team All-Pro who’s the most accurate kicker in NFL history, is coming off his worst of 13 seasons in Baltimore. He missed eight of his first 27 field goal attempts and finished 2024 with the worst field goal percentage (73.3) of his career. But Tucker ended the season on an upswing, hitting all five field goals attempts, including two from 50-plus yards, and all 23 extra-point tries from Week 14 through the Ravens’ playoff loss in the AFC’s divisional round.
At last week’s season-ending news conference, Harbaugh acknowledged Tucker’s sudden fallibility: “Maybe we all saw that Justin Tucker is human.”
As news of Justin Tucker’s alleged inappropriate behavior continues to circulate, many are wondering if the NFL and the Baltimore Ravens will take action against the star kicker.Tucker, known for his accuracy on the field, is now facing scrutiny off the field after reports surfaced of him making lewd comments and gestures towards a female reporter during a press conference.
While Tucker has denied the allegations, the NFL and the Ravens have yet to make a statement regarding the situation. Many are calling for swift and decisive action to be taken against Tucker if the claims are found to be true.
Will the NFL and the Ravens punish Tucker for his alleged inappropriate behavior? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain – this incident has cast a shadow over Tucker’s otherwise stellar career. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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Sam Hunt Avoids Charges After Reported Arrest for Alleged Speeding
Sam Hunt will avoid charges after he was reportedly arrested for alleged speeding outside of Nashville.
The country singer, 40, was arrested and taken to jail on Jan. 20 for allegedly speeding and violating an interlock device, which prevents drivers from starting their vehicles unless they pass a breathalyzer test, TMZ reported. He was released the same day on $1,500 bond, according to the outlet. It remains unclear just how Hunt violated the device.
A rep for Hunt tells PEOPLE that the singer’s lawyer cleared the paperwork in court this week, and the star will not face charges.
A spokesperson for the Henderson Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The incident comes more than five years after Hunt was arrested in Nashville on charges of driving under the influence and possessing an open container in November 2019. The “Body Like a Back Road” singer was taken into custody after police responded to a call of a vehicle driving the wrong way down the road, and his blood alcohol content level at the time was .173.
Sam Hunt performs on stage during the LBJ Foundation honors at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, on May 12, 2023.
SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty
Hunt pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges related to the arrest in 2021, and he was ultimately sentenced to 48 hours at the DUI Education Center, an alternative facility and required to complete an alcohol safety course. The star also lost his license for a year, and his car was to have an interlock installed until he got his license back.
“It happened,” Hunt said of the arrest to HITS Daily Double in 2020. “People in my camp were talking about suppressing it, but why would I be afraid to talk about it? If it happens, it’s true. I was raised and taught to respect [alcohol]. Moderation is important. I’ve never wanted to glorify it. It’s a cheap trick in country music, and I’ve always wanted to avoid that. I don’t like using [drinking] as a party song; for me, that wouldn’t be honest. I’ve never been the guy who shotguns a beer. I know people who partake that way, and I wouldn’t want to shake my finger or look down on them.”
Sam Hunt and Hannah Lee Fowler attend the 2024 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 07, 2024 in Austin, Texas.
Chris Saucedo/WireImage
He continued, “It’s not that I don’t drink at all, but I put myself in a position by being out, seeing friends at a show, leaving my phone in an Uber. We’d Uber’d all night, then went back to a friend’s house, had some pizza. I fell asleep on the couch, woke up groggy. I should’ve been more conscious, but I wasn’t. So I take responsibility.”
In November, Hunt and his wife Hannah, who married in 2017, announced that they’re expecting their third child. The pair are parents to daughter Lucy Louise, 2½, and son Lowry Lee, 14 months.
“It’s about to get real,” he said on Audacy’s Katie & Company podcast of baby No. 3. “I’m elated, can’t wait!”
Hunt also said he hoped to take a break from touring “in the next couple years” in order to spend more time with his family.
Country singer Sam Hunt has avoided charges after being reported for alleged speeding in Nashville earlier this week. The “Body Like a Back Road” singer was pulled over by police for allegedly driving over the speed limit, but no charges were filed against him.Hunt, who has had his fair share of legal troubles in the past, including a DUI arrest in 2019, seemed to have luck on his side this time around. Fans of the country star were relieved to hear that he would not be facing any further legal repercussions for the incident.
While Hunt has yet to comment on the situation, it seems like he will be able to continue focusing on his music career without any distractions. Hopefully, this close call will serve as a reminder for the singer to drive safely and responsibly in the future.
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Bill Burr Slams Howie Mandel for Ambush Interview with Alleged Half-Brother Billy Corgan
There’s some unresolved tension between Bill Burr and Billy Corgan.
Burr, 56, got a slightly unwelcome surprise as he joined Howie Mandel for the Jan. 21 episode of his podcast, Howie Mandel Does Stuff, and Corgan, 57, walked in mid-interview.
“You’re an a–hole,” Burr told Mandel, 69.
Corgan was under the impression that Mandel had cleared his arrival with the comedian, though that was not the case. “I thought it would be a good surprise,” Mandel said.
Burr was visibly uncomfortable and even asked, “Can this be edited out?” before he decided to just go with it.
“All right, f— it, I’ll do it,” Burr said, before turning to the Smashing Pumpkins member, asking, “Did you ever think the fact that I never told that story… that maybe you shouldn’t?”
Billy Corgan and Bill Burr on How Mandel’s podcast ‘Howie Mandel Does Stuff’.
Howie Mandel Does Stuff Podcast/Youtube
Burr was referring to Corgan’s previous appearance on Howie Mandel Does Stuff, where he revealed that his stepmother had said to him: “Do you know who Bill Burr is? Bill Burr might be one of the children that your father sired in his days being a traveling musician.”
“You know how many emails and crap I got?” Burr said, referring to Corgan’s reveal.
The two confirmed they’d “never met” before the surprise podcast interview, and while they seemed to smooth things over, Burr still said, “Listen, you’ve done well for yourself, I’m happy for you, but I just would prefer if you just kinda didn’t go around telling these f—ing stories. Like, why did you feel the need to do that?”
The reason Corgan had shared the story on Mandel’s podcast, he told Burr, was because he’d run into the America’s Got Talent judge and “the first thing he said to me was, ‘Here comes Bill Burr.’ And I go, ‘Do you know that story somehow?’ And he said, ‘What story?’ And so I told him privately that story and he said, ‘Oh you’ve got to say this on the air.’”
Burr wasn’t surprised to hear that and then accused Mandel of bringing Corgan onto the episode solely for “the f—ing ratings.”
“He’s bringing you in here, not because he’s trying to heal the bulls— that we went through growing up,” Burr said. “What was supposed to happen? Are we going to go play catch? We’re both in our 50s.”
Bill Burr attends the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s “UNFROSTED” at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on April 30, 2024.
Amy Sussman/Getty
Of his father, the comedian said, “He was a piece of s—. He had two kids this close together, and he gave them the same f—ing name? He thinks it’s different because he’s Billy and I’m Bill. That’s how he told the difference.”
He also clarified of Corgan: “It’s not that I don’t like him, it reminds me of all of that s—.”
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Corgan also snuck in a bit of a joke at Burr’s expense, as he quipped, “The fact that he said he can’t sing, I think, disproves that we’re related, ’cause I’m not funny, so … it goes both ways.”
Bill Burr Slams Howie Mandel for Ambush Interview with Alleged Half-Brother Billy CorganComedian Bill Burr has taken to social media to express his outrage over Howie Mandel’s recent ambush interview with alleged half-brother Billy Corgan. In a scathing post, Burr criticized Mandel for his “reckless and unethical” behavior, calling it a “disgusting abuse of his platform.”
The interview, which aired on Mandel’s podcast last week, featured Corgan’s supposed half-brother making wild and unsubstantiated claims about the rock star’s personal life. Burr, who is a close friend of Corgan’s, condemned Mandel for allowing such baseless accusations to be aired without any fact-checking or verification.
“Hey Howie Mandel, you should be ashamed of yourself for stooping so low as to exploit someone’s family drama for your own gain,” Burr wrote. “You owe Billy Corgan and his alleged half-brother a public apology for this disgraceful display of sensationalism.”
Fans of both Corgan and Burr have rallied behind the comedian’s statements, with many calling for Mandel to be held accountable for his actions. It remains to be seen whether Mandel will address the controversy and issue a response to the backlash.
In the meantime, Burr’s post serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible journalism and ethical behavior in the entertainment industry. Let’s hope that this incident will prompt a much-needed conversation about the boundaries of privacy and respect in the world of celebrity interviews.
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