Former Redskins play-by-play voice Larry Michael abruptly retired Wednesday via ESPN’s John Keim after 16 years. He did so after the Washington Post informed the team about accusations of sexual misconduct against the longtime Voice of the Redskins.
Seven former employees made accounts about Michael’s “off-color commentary” about female colleagues, according to Will Hobson and Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.
General description of Michael is he had “become a growing source of discomfort,” according to four former Redskins employees.
“It was always objectifying; it was always derogatory. … I wouldn’t even know what to do. I would just shake it off,” one former male staffer said. “We’re all just afraid for our jobs and trying to make it.”
There were multiple examples of Michael’s making sexual and disparaging remarks about female employees. Employees felt discouraged to make a formal complaint against Michael.
“They’re not going to get rid of ‘The Voice of the Redskins’ … over a $30,000-a-year marketing manager,” one former male staffer said.
However, Michael was subject to one complaint in 2018 a “hot mic” incident in which he was recorded that was described as “disgusting” about a female intern. Micheal was being filmed during a team video production, according to employees.
Another female employee complained to the team about the video. A team attorney took the hard drive from the employee who recorded the incident. When the file was returned the employee discovered the video had been removed.
“The club’s legal department removed the file from the hard drive and maintained the file in the organization’s confidential HR/Legal records where it still resides,” the team said in a statement.
Michael replaced the popular Frank Herzog in 2004 as the Redskins’ play-by-play announcer. Officially he was the team’s chief content officer. He also hosted Redskins Nation on NBC Sports Washington and Redskins Coach’s Show on NBC4.
His retirement shocked many Washington fans. But with speculation of the Washington Post story coming it was safe to assume his retirement was linked. Those suspicions proved true.
Michael was among a number of Redskins officials accused of sexual harassment, verbal abuse and inappropriate behavior. Each are no longer with the team, including Alex Santos and Richard Mann II, who were both fired last week.
