Pistons fire Rob Murphy amid sexual harassment allegations

[ad_1]

NBA

By Jenna Lemoncelli

May 4, 2023 | 6:31 p.m.

The Detroit Pistons have fired assistant general manager Rob Murphy following a seven-month suspension and an investigation into workplace misconduct by a former employee, the Detroit Free Press reported Thursday.

The team confirmed Murphy’s dismissal on Wednesday for violating company policy and the terms of his employment contract, a day before his accuser DeJanai DJay Raska filed a lawsuit against the Pistons and Murphy, 50.

Raska, a 32-year-old mother and former executive assistant to Murphy, filed a sexual discrimination and harassment complaint Thursday, alleging she was abused, harassed and assaulted by Murphy.

Raska told the Detroit Free Press that Murphy, whom she trusted as a mentor, used her job to make her a sexual target, alleging he groped her private parts in front of her 4-year-old daughter.

Raska alleged that Murphy sexually harassed her for months behind closed doors while she worked as an executive assistant, saying he grabbed her buttocks repeatedly, subjected her to unwanted kisses, had often said that she turned him on and said that he wanted to give her a baby. .

Rob Murphy, then Eastern Michigan coach, gestures during the second half of the NCAA college basketball game against Buffalo on January 4, 2019 in Ypsilanti, Michigan AP

Raska also alleged that Murphy tried to force her to have sex, but she managed to push him away as he held her down on a bed.

I felt like I had a dangerous secret, Raska told the outlet, adding that she had been silent for 16 months. I felt like if the wrong person found out, I might get fired.

Raska also told the Free Press that she lost her job in May 2022 when Murphy sent a fake email claiming she had resigned from the Pistons’ human resources department.

DeJanai Raska claimed Pistons assistant general manager Rob Murphy sexually harassed and groped her. FOX2 Detroit

Raska said she lived in fear and anxiety for months, until she couldn’t take it anymore.

Silence is not an option, Raska said. It’s not for me. It shouldn’t be for any woman. This is my chance to speak the truth and take my power back.

Murphy’s dismissal came after the Pistons furloughed him in October 2022, following an investigation into an allegation he engaged in workplace misconduct with a former employee.

Murphy was previously the coach of the Eastern Michigan men’s basketball team. Sportswire icon via Getty Images

Rob Murphy no longer works for the Detroit Pistons or Motor City Cruise in any capacity, the team said in a statement. Mr. Murphy was recently terminated for violating company policy and the terms of his employment contract.

The facts that led to his dismissal surfaced during a review, assisted by a national law firm, of a former employee’s allegations.

After the allegations, Murphy did not return to the workplace before he was fired, according to the team.

The Pistons added that because this is a personnel matter, no further details will be provided at this time.

Murphy, a Detroit native and beloved native figure in the sport, was promoted to assistant general manager last offseason after spending the 2021-22 season as president of Pistons G League affiliate Motor City Cruise. .

Prior to the pros, Murphy served as the head coach of Eastern Michigan for 10 seasons, from 2011-21.

He previously served as an assistant coach at Kent State and Syracuse.

Murphy was also an associate coach at Detroit Crockett and Central High Schools in the 1990s.

Load more…

{{#isDisplay}} {{/isDisplay}}{{#isAniviewVideo}} {{/isAniviewVideo}}{{#isSRVideo}} {{/isSRVideo}}

https://nypost.com/2023/05/04/pistons-fire-rob-murphy-amid-sexual-harassment-allegations/?utm_source=url_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons

Copy the URL to share

[ad_2]