It’s not just one bad apple. It’s the whole orchard.

Over the past two years, at least eight high-level men affiliated with the Detroit Tigers and Ilitch Sports & Entertainment (IS+E) have been accused of mistreating women at work—from degrading comments to physical confrontation. Four were vice presidents. Several were only fired—or resigned—after HR complaints or media inquiries. In one shocking case, a VP reportedly pushed a woman down a flight of stairs.

But this goes far deeper than individual misconduct. According to investigative reports by The Athletic, the Tigers' workplace fostered a "boys club" culture where women were belittled, body-shamed, told how to dress to avoid “distracting” men, and denied even basic protections like paid maternity leave—something 27 out of 30 MLB teams already offer.

Executives like Josh Bullock and Rob Gehring were allowed to stay on even after repeated complaints about sexist behavior. Another VP, Ben Fidelman, was promoted after an HR complaint and allegations of verbally abusing women. Meanwhile, some women say they were told to tolerate harassment because “that’s just how he is.”

And this isn’t just about sexism. Multiple employees described an organization that pushes out older workers in favor of younger, cheaper labor. At least three age discrimination lawsuits have been filed in the past three years.

We, the undersigned, demand real change—not just spin. The Tigers and IS+E must:

• Commission a fully independent investigation of their workplace culture, with a public summary of findings
• Release a public action plan for anti-harassment, equity, and safety reforms, with clear timelines and accountability
• Provide paid maternity leave immediately—not “someday”
• Commit to transparent, annual reporting on employee complaints and progress made
• Guarantee protection for whistleblowers across the organization

As fans, workers, and members of this community, we won’t look the other way. A winning season on the field doesn't excuse a toxic culture behind the scenes.

Photo: Mark Cunningham / Getty Images