Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker responded to sexual harassment allegations against him Monday, a day after being suspended without pay, calling them “completely false.”
The university said Sunday that Tucker is being investigated for sexual assault allegations. The report was published by USA Today,
USA Today reported that the accuser is Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor who works to educate athletes about sexual assault and harassment. An incident reportedly occurred in April 2022. Tracy alleges that Tucker made sexual comments about her and then masturbated over the phone without her consent.
Tracy told USA TODAY, “The idea that someone could know me and say they understand my trauma, but then re-impose that trauma on me, is so abhorrent to me that it’s hard for me to put it out of my mind. It’s also difficult to keep in.” “It seems as if he sought me out just to betray me.”
Tucker claims it was consensual, calling it a “completely mutual, private incident”.
full statement Below is the release from Tucker Monday afternoon:
Mel Tucker’s full response By WXYZ-TV Detroit
In his letter, Tucker said in part “…this was a completely mutual, private event between two adults living on opposite ends of the country. She initiated the discussion that night, sending me a photo of both of us. Sent a provocative photo, suggested what she might look like without clothes, and not once during the 36 minutes did she object in any way, let alone hang up.” He also said of the woman behind the complaint, “She has planned to revive her career after a few months of sabotaging our personal relationship and destroy my life because of her greed.”
Tracy tweeted her own statement, saying, “This is exactly the same DARVO, deflection, victim blaming and lies that I have been dealing with for months. Coach Tucker has been delaying from the beginning and trying to stop the investigative process.” trying.” ,
MSU athletic director Alan Haller said that upon receiving the reports from Tracy on the incident, MSU’s Office of Civil Rights immediately reviewed them and initiated a follow-up investigation, using a third-party investigator, in accordance with university protocol. He also confirmed that he was aware of the report in late December.
According to the university, the hearing is scheduled for October 5-6.
“There will be a formal conclusion to the university’s investigation after the hearing and final adjudication process has been completed,” Haller said Sunday.
An MSU spokesperson confirmed to Scripps News Detroit that MSU leadership was not aware of the contents of the complaint until USA TODAY reported.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a statement Monday evening:
“As a survivor, I am shocked. As a Spartan, I am disappointed. As governor, I want answers.
“I know how much pain many people feel when allegations like this come out, because I have lived it too. This is re-traumatizing. MSU holds a special place in the hearts of many of us – that’s what makes it hurt all the more.
“We deserve to know when the university knew of these allegations and why they made the decisions they did. We need to ensure that one of our state’s premier universities, which holds so much importance around the world, is learning from the past and not recreating it.
“Spartans, survivors, and Michiganders—we deserve better.”
Harlon Barnett will serve as interim head coach and Mark Dantonio will serve as associate head coach, Haller said.
This story was originally published by Scripps News Detroit,