Fox Sports made a shocking move on Monday morning when it was announced that Jamie Horowitz, president of national networks at Fox Sports, had been fired. The decision came days after the company had made a massive pivot towards video, most of which was overseen by Horowitz, and laid off a significant amount of their editorial staff.
The announcement made by Fox Sports president Eric Shanks, via an email sent to Fox Sports staffers, didn’t offer any specific reasons for Horowitz’s firing, other than a vague note about personal conduct.
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. These values are non-negotiable.
That line seemed to indicate that there was something bigger at play that led to Horowitz’s ouster, and it didn’t take long for some details to emerge.
According to the Los Angeles Times‘ Meg James, Horowitz’s firing coincides with an internal sexual harassment investigation at Fox Sports.
Horowitz’s dismissal came less than a week after 21st Century Fox began investigating allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace at Fox Sports. The company hired a law firm, which began interviewing women at Fox Sports about Horowitz’s behavior, according to a person familiar with the investigation who was not authorized to publicly discuss it.
Several women, including prominent on-air personalities, have already been interviewed about their treatment at Fox Sports, according to two people familiar with the investigation.
Horowitz’s attorney Patty Glaser released a statement after his firing that attacks the “slanderous” accusations against him, per the Hollywood Reporter.
“The way Jamie has been treated by Fox is appalling. At no point in his tenure was there any mention by his superiors or human resources of any misconduct or an inability to adhere to professional conduct. Jamie was hired by Fox to do a job, a job that until today he has performed an exemplary fashion. Any slanderous accusations to the contrary will be vigorously defended.”
This saga appears to be headed for a fierce court battle, as Horowitz attempts to shed his record of the alleged sexual harassment claims that reportedly led to his firing.
