Sexual Assault Prevention Expert Talks Lawsuit Against Mel Tucker

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Relationship violence prevention advocate Brenda Tracy will sit down exclusively with WILX-TV News 10 on Wednesday to discuss the defamation lawsuit she filed against former Michigan State University head coach Mel Tucker , submitted.

Tracy and her attorney have scheduled a press conference for 6:30 p.m. The interview will be broadcast live on WILX.com and the News 10+ streaming app.

She will sit down with News 10 anchor Ann Emmerich to talk about the impact the case has had on her life and her nonprofit, Set the Expectation.

Tracy filed a civil lawsuit against Tucker on Oct. 4. The lawsuit includes nine different counts against Tucker, including:

• slander
• Breach of contract
• Tortious interference with a contract
• unauthorized interference with business relationships and malicious intent to damage professional and personal reputation
• Misappropriation, theft and/or conversion of business records
• Invasion of privacy
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress
• negligence
• Violating fraudulent access to computers, computer systems and computer networks

Tracy is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages.

Tucker assigned Tracy to speak to his team about sexual violence in August 2021. He invited her again in April 2022, where she was named an honorary captain at the team’s spring game. Tracy was named one of the Top Women in Sports by Sports Illustrated in 2020.

Tracy filed a complaint with the MSU Office of Institutional Equity in December 2022, accusing Tucker of sexual harassment. She claims he had fun during a phone conversation with her in April 2022.

During MSU’s investigation, Tracy said someone at the university leaked her name to the public. In response, she shared her story with USA Today in September 2023.

The next day, MSU held a press conference and announced that Tucker was suspended without pay. He was fired later that month after MSU’s investigation found he violated the university’s policies on relationship violence and sexual misconduct and Title IX.

Tucker, one of the highest paid college football coaches, is suing MSU for wrongful termination.

Tucker, who was married at the time, claimed the relationship with Tracy was consensual.

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