A man who was hit by an ax thrown by “Fox & Friends” host Pete Hegseth during a segment of the show in 2015 has filed a lawsuit against him claiming he and the network were negligent.
Jeff Prosperie of Orange, New York, filed the lawsuit with the New York Supreme Court against Hegseth, “Fox & Friends,” Fox News Channel, and other entities Tuesday.
The lawsuit claims the target set up during the episode, which Hegseth tried unsuccessfully to hit when he threw the ax, was “negligently placed in an area which put pedestrians and other individuals, including [Prosperie], in the path of peril.”
Hegseth, the complaint states, was “negligent, wanton, reckless and carless [sic] in, among other things, throwing an axe in an area where he knew or should have known that pedestrians were present.”
The incident that served as the impetus for Prosperie’s lawsuit occurred during an episode of “Fox & Friends” in June 2015. During a promotion for a segment for Flag Day and the Army’s 240th birthday, Hegseth threw an ax toward the target.
The ax, however, flew over the target and hit Prosperie, who was performing with the West Point Hellcats marching band.
Footage of the incident was not aired, but Prosperie later took to Facebook to share that he had been hit by the ax while performing a drum solo.
Prosperie said at the time he was instructed no axes would be thrown, and said he believed the “anchor person went rogue.”
The lawsuit against Hegseth and Fox News says Prosperie sustained “severe and serious personal injuries to his mind and body, some of which, upon information and belief, are permanent effects of pain, disability, disfigurement and loss of body function.”
The lawsuit further states Prosperie was forced to spend an undisclosed amount of money to obtain medical care and treatment “in an effort to alleviate the suffering and ills sustained” because of the incident.
Fox News said in a statement to the Washington Examiner it is reviewing Prosperie’s lawsuit.
“The incident involving Jeff Prosperie from 2015 was unfortunate and completely unintentional. FOX News immediately apologized to Prosperie and offered medical assistance, which he declined saying he was ‘okay.’ The network also offered compensation, which he declined as well,” the network said. “We have not heard from Prosperie since 2015, so the lawsuit is surprising and we are reviewing it.”
