Gregg Zaun has been fired from Rogers Sportsnet for "inappropriate behaviour and comments" toward his female colleagues. The former MLB catcher and baseball analyst had his contract terminated last week after several women came forward with allegations of lewd conduct. Rogers Media president, Rick Brace, shared the news in a public statement sent out on Thursday night.
"This week, we received complaints from multiple female employees at Sportsnet regarding inappropriate behaviour and comments by Gregg Zaun in the workplace," the statement begins. "After investigating the matter, we decided to terminate his contract, effective immediately. This type of behaviour completely contradicts our standards and our core values."
Brace continued to reiterate his belief in creating a safe space for all Rogers employees. "We must all be held to the same standard – regardless of our position, our contributions or our status. We believe in a professional workplace where all employees feel comfortable and respected. We believe in a culture where our employees share their feedback openly and honestly. We are grateful to the employees who spoke with us and we will take every measure to protect their privacy." Zaun, who played for the Toronto Blue Jays between 2004 and 2008, had been a full-time broadcaster with Rogers Sportsnet since 2011.
According to a report from the Toronto Star, Zaun's actions went unpunished due to what female employees are calling a toxic, male-dominated workplace. “I think he was able to get away with this for so long because as a woman at Sportsnet," an anonymous source told the Star. "You certainly didn’t feel empowered to report the inappropriate behaviour of a former professional athlete nicknamed ‘The Manalyst,’ especially to an all-male senior management team.”
This isn't the first time that Zaun has come under scrutiny for misogynistic actions. The self-described "Manalyst" famously caught heat a few years ago thanks to an offensive tweet that body shamed Toronto women. “The rich girls from TO must be home from college. Tubby, unfortunately manish, and super stuck up are all at Hemingways tonight,” he told his 100K followers in 2012.
Despite numerous requests from media outlets including Sportsnet, Zaun has refused to comment on the allegations.
