Craig Monroe taken off Tigers' TV minutes after sex-abuse claims came to light
Tony PaulCraig Monroe was removed from his role as an analyst on Tigers television and radio broadcasts last month minutes after a post on social media accused him of sexually molesting a girl in Florida, a source with knowledge of the removal told The Detroit News. The accuser said the abuse continued for years, into Monroe's years playing in Detroit.
The accuser first posted on X about the allegations last month, tagging multiple news outlets, before deleting that original post. However, according to the source with knowledge of the situation, an executive with Bally Sports Detroit had already seen the post.
At the time, Monroe was at Comerica Park preparing to work the series opener between the Tigers and Washington Nationals on June 11. Within 30 minutes of seeing the post, a Bally Sports Detroit executive demanded Monroe leave the ballpark, according to the source.
Bally Sports Detroit and the Tigers issued a statement to The News on Tuesday acknowledging the accusations.
"Bally Sports Detroit and the Tigers are aware of the social-media allegations and take them seriously," the Tigers and Bally Sports Detroit said in a jointly released statement. "As previously stated, Mr. Monroe has not been on the broadcast schedule, and that will continue on an indefinite basis. We will have no further comment and any questions should be directed to Mr. Monroe."
Monroe has not been criminally charged in the matter but Gabriella Ruiz of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office in Florida confirmed to The News that the agency is actively investigating the woman's claims and is asking anyone else with information to come forward.
Monroe, who hasn't returned multiple messages from The News since he was removed from the air last month, made his social media accounts private Tuesday.
His attorney, Michael Manley, sent a statement Tuesday after The News requested comment, saying his client "will be cleared of any wrongdoing."
"Craig Monroe did not dignify these horrifying and false allegations when they appeared on various social media sites. Now that mainstream media has chosen to report this inaccurate information, Craig has no choice but to vehemently deny these claims," he said. "We will cooperate with law enforcement and are confident that once this case is fully investigated, Craig will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
"Craig Monroe takes allegations of this nature very seriously and would never commit or condone such despicable conduct. He and his family are shocked by these allegations and offer his accuser forgiveness and grace. We trust that law enforcement will uncover the truth regarding her background and motivations."
The News has reached out to the woman who made the accusations on social media, via X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and she has not responded.
The woman who detailed abuse dating back to her childhood did talk anonymously to WJBK-TV (Channel 2) for a story posted late Monday night.
The allegations against Monroe date to the late 1990s, when he was playing for the Texas Rangers' minor league organization in Port Charlotte, Florida. The woman said Monroe lived with her family when he was 20, and she was 12. Back then, it was common for players in the low levels of the minor leagues to stay with "host" families to save on costs.
The woman posted the allegations again Thursday, and those posts remain on X and Instagram. The woman posted a video Saturday expanding on her original posts.
Monroe hasn't called a Tigers game since the June 9 game between the Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers in Detroit. He hasn't posted on social media since May 8. Bally Sports Detroit and the Tigers first acknowledged Monroe's on-air absence in a statement to local media outlets June 21, saying he was "addressing a personal matter."
Bally Sports Detroit and the Tigers are not investigating the claims; they are leaving that to the authorities, according to the source with knowledge of the situation.
Monroe, 47, is a freelance employee who was paid on a per-game basis for his work on the Tigers' television and radio broadcasts, with no minimum or maximum number of games in his agreement. Monroe received no health insurance or other benefits through his work on television or radio, and he is not being compensated during his absence. Bally Sports Detroit paid him for his work on TV, and the Tigers paid him for his work on radio.
Monroe joined the Tigers' television team in 2012, first as a studio analyst and eventually as an on-air game analyst. He emerged in recent years as the lead TV analyst in a rotation that now includes Kirk Gibson, Dan Petry, Carlos Pena and Todd Jones. Petry has been handling additional game work in Monroe's absence.
Monroe broke into the major leagues with the Rangers in 2001 and was claimed off waivers by the Tigers in 2002. A slugging outfielder, he played parts of six seasons with the Tigers, helping lead them to the 2006 World Series.
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Staff Writer George Hunter contributed.