The most infamous moment of Julie Stewart-Binks’ career occurred nine years ago next week when she co-hosted the Jason Whitlock show Whitlock’s House Party by the Bay in the lead-up to Super Bowl 50. The then-28-year-old eagerly urged Rob Gronkowski to give her a lap dance live on set. Gronk unsurprisingly obliged, creating a viral yet cringeworthy moment for all involved, which still lives on via the NFL on Fox YouTube page.
However, whatever publicity Fox garnered from the clip was ultimately overshadowed by criticism, much of which targeted Stewart-Binks. To many, the segment perpetuated the worst stereotypes about women in sports: a co-host using her access for sexual gain. In response, Stewart-Binks publicly defended herself against critics on social media, while Fox executives remained silent for over a month. Shortly after, she left Fox when the network opted not to renew her contract. Although she has worked in various roles across the sports media landscape since then, including positions at ESPN and Barstool Sports, her career has never quite regained the upward trajectory it once enjoyed.
Recently, new details have emerged following Stewart-Binks’ lawsuit accusing Fox Sports executive Charlie Dixon of sexual assault. In both her lawsuit and an interview with The Athletic’s Katie Strang, she alleges that Dixon sexually assaulted her in a hotel room just days before the on-air lap dance. Stewart-Binks, a Toronto native, claims Dixon, an executive vice president at Fox Sports, “pushed her against the wall of the hotel and pinned her arms to her side,” trying to force himself on her.
Despite the humiliation, she felt pressured to participate in the Gronkowski stunt, explaining that Dixon had criticized her television talent beforehand: “Had I not (done it), I would have felt like I failed and that I would have confirmed what (Dixon) told me,” she told Strang. Yet, Fox executives remained silent and didn’t publicly address the backlash until six weeks later. While her agency, CAA, advised her to “ride it out,” she was informed less than two months post-Super Bowl that Fox wouldn’t renew her contract.
A year later, Stewart-Binks reported the incident involving Dixon following inquiries into allegations against another Fox executive, Jamie Horowitz. While Horowitz was fired, Dixon remains at the company despite a separate lawsuit alleging inappropriate conduct from another employee filed earlier this month. In a statement regarding Stewart-Binks’ lawsuit, Fox Sports claimed, “These allegations are from over eight years ago. At the time, we promptly hired a third-party firm to investigate and addressed the matter based on their findings.”
While it’s uncertain how the lawsuit will unfold, the allegations offer new context to the six-second lap dance that marked a significant turning point in Stewart-Binks’ career. The pressure she faced, including Dixon’s alleged comments implying she “wasn’t hot enough,” likely influenced her participation in such a segment, especially with her contract options on the table. In her interview with Strang, Stewart-Binks emotionally stated, “I will spend my entire life trying to make up for this,” expressing deep remorse over the incident.
In hindsight, it seems the network left Stewart-Binks vulnerable, as none of her superiors publicly commented until over a month after the incident. Although Horowitz defended her at the time, the damage was already inflicted, and Fox’s choice not to renew her contract only solidified the perception that she bore the brunt of the fallout. Ironically, Gronk is now employed as an analyst for the Fox NFL Sunday pregame show. Altogether, this situation paints a troubling and disheartening picture of workplace dynamics at Fox Sports. While we may have clarity on the circumstances surrounding the Gronk lap dance, the long-lasting impact on Julie Stewart-Binks’ career is undeniable.
