Man sues ‘Fox & Friends’ host after being struck by ax on set

A man who was struck by an ax thrown by “Fox & Friends” co-host Pete Hegseth on the show’s set in 2015 is suing the host and the network over injuries he says he sustained in the incident.
Jeff Prosperie, who was struck by the ax thrown by Hegseth during a segment on the show, alleges that the co-host “negligently attempted to throw an axe at a ‘target’ ” and that the target was “negligently placed in an area” that put people “in the path of peril.”
{mosads}Hegseth tossed the ax as part of a segment on “Fox & Friends” in 2015, but video shows he missed the target. Video later posted by Prosperie shows the axe striking him.
The video of the incident quickly went viral and was widely covered at the time.
Fox News told The Hill in an emailed statement that the lawsuit was “surprising,” given that Prosperie declined the network’s offer for medical assistance and compensation at the time of the incident and that Fox representatives had not heard from Prosperie since 2015.
“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.’ ” Fox wrote.
“The network also offered compensation, which he declined as well. We have not heard from Prosperie since 2015, so the lawsuit is surprising and we are reviewing it,” the network said.
The lawsuit, filed in the New York Supreme Court on Tuesday, alleges that the defendants in the case, which include Hegseth, Fox News and “Fox & Friends,” were “negligent, wanton, reckless and careless” in setting up the ax-tossing event and that it put pedestrians and others in danger.
The complaint also states that Hegseth was negligent in his throwing of the ax, claiming he did so “without proper training and in failure to properly look for pedestrians while performing a dangerous act in public.”
Prosperie said he suffered “severe and serious personal injuries to his mind and body” from the incident, including some that are “permanent with permanent effects of pain, disability, disfigurement and loss of body function.”
The document states that he had to spend “diverse sums of money” on his recovery and that his injuries caused him to “lose substantial periods of time from his normal vocation and activities.”
Prosperie is seeking judgement against the defendants in the case and an unspecified amount in damages.
Updated 4 p.m.
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