All it takes to derail a career is for an anonymous person to post sexual assault allegations on social media.
FP Santangelo, 53, was taken off the air late last month after an anonymous woman posted vague allegations of sexual misconduct against him. The woman made her claims on Instagram and later told The Athletic that Santangelo made an “unwanted advance” toward her years ago. She claimed she repeatedly told him to stop. She said on Instagram that he sexually abused her, sent her “angry text messages,” and blocked her on social media.
Without evidence, Santangelo was taken off the air and is now being investigated by the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. As is often the case, even if he is cleared and the charges proven false, the outcome won’t be reported.
Santangelo denied the allegations to media outlets, MEAWW reported.
“What I have read in a recently published article from an anonymous individual about me is untrue and did not happen,” Santangelo said in text messages to various media outlets. “This is not representative of who I am as a man or a professional. I am confident that my name and reputation will be fully cleared.”
As soon as the anonymous allegations surfaced, the Daily Mail reported, the Washington Nationals released a statement throwing Santangelo under the bus, even though it admitted that an initial investigation cleared the analyst of wrongdoing.
“Late last week, we were made aware of allegations of conduct by FP Santangelo that are inconsistent with our values as an organization,” the Nationals’ statement said. “We alerted the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network and revoked our approval of him as a member of our broadcast team. MASN assured us that they would investigate these allegations thoroughly.”
Apparently, MASN investigated the allegations and cleared Santangelo, but more anonymous posts popped up so they again disavowed him.
“After MASN notified us that their investigation was complete and that FP should be reinstated, additional posts appeared. Once again, we notified MASN and revoked our approval of FP as a member of our broadcast team indefinitely. Moving forward, we will refer all questions regarding this investigation to FP’s employer, MASN,” the statement added.
MEAWW reported that Santangelo has been on and off the air due to the allegations since April 30, missing the “Nationals’ 4-3 extra-inning loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday, May 8.”
Santangelo began his Major League Baseball career with the Montreal Expos in 1995, where he played until 2001. In 2000, he was investigated for purchasing human growth hormone and accused of buying other illegal steroids as well. Santangelo said he used HGH twice – in 1997 and 2000 – as part of rehab for two separate injuries. He denied all other allegations.
Santangelo is the latest person caught up in #MeToo allegations, where no evidence or real details are needed to derail someone’s career and forever cloud them in doubt. The woman who made the allegations posted on Instagram that she didn’t want charges or compensation, she just wanted to tell her story.