A Lawsuit Accused New York Rangers’ ‘dancing Larry’ Of Getting Handsy With Staff. Hours Later He Was Honored At Msg

A longtime New York Rangers superfan known arsenic “Dancing Larry” was honored connected nan jumbotron Wednesday for his 30 years astatine Madison Square Garden, moreover arsenic a new lawsuit alleges he groped staffers during his in-game performances astatine nan arena.

The lawsuit, revenge successful New York County Supreme Court and first reported by The Independent, was brought by Miranda Tyson, a erstwhile personnel of nan Rangers’ Blue Crew intermezo team.

Tyson, whose begetter is astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, alleges that Larry Goodman, nan man down nan Dancing Larry persona, engaged successful “pervasive and severe” harassment consisting of repeated unwanted beingness interaction during his third-period routines, including rubbing performers’ heads, necks, arms, shoulders and backs, and astatine times attempting to intertwine fingers during high-fives.

Despite nan allegations, Goodman was spotlighted during Wednesday’s 5-3 Rangers nonaccomplishment to nan Buffalo Sabres, marking his 3 decades entertaining fans astatine nan famed Garden, according to a post connected X by New York Post NHL newsman Mollie Walker.

An MSG spokesperson told The Independent successful a connection Thursday, “We don’t remark connected worker aliases ineligible matters,” which is nan aforesaid consequence they gave erstwhile first asked astir nan lawsuit. However, a root acquainted pinch nan business told nan New York Post that nan allegations are unfounded and that nan statement continues to support Goodman.

Jonathan Ouimet, a journalist who covers Rangers for NY Hockey Insider, wrote of nan decision to characteristic Goodman connected nan Jumbotron pursuing nan claims complete his behavior: “For nan Rangers, this lands for illustration different avoidable ain goal.

“The squad did not create nan lawsuit, but nan tribute made judge it became portion of nan nighttime anyway.

“Instead of controlling nan message, nan statement handed caller attraction to a contention that should person stayed extracurricular nan arena and distant from a infinitesimal meant to consciousness celebratory.”

The bald, Rangers uniform-wearing Goodman is simply a play summons holder who has performed astatine Rangers games since 1996. He is not named arsenic a suspect successful nan civilian lawsuit. Instead, nan ineligible action targets MSG and nan Rangers organization, accusing them of failing to reside complaints and allowing nan alleged behaviour to continue.

Goodman is known for energizing nan crowd by dancing to “Strike It Up” by Black Box during nan 3rd period, a regular that made him a instrumentality favourite moreover arsenic Tyson alleges their experiences pinch him were uncomfortable from nan beginning.

Tyson, who joined nan Blue Crew successful 2021, says they raised concerns pinch supervisors and quality resources astir Goodman’s alleged behavior, arguing nan statement had a work to measurement in, and claims nary meaningful action was taken and nan behaviour continued. After years of reluctance by Tyson and colleagues to speak retired owed to Goodman’s fame pinch fans and squad leadership, Tyson formally reported nan alleged behaviour to her nonstop supervisor successful March 2024.

Tyson emphasized successful a connection to their supervisor that they were not asking to beryllium personally taken disconnected nan Dancing Larry segments, nan title says.

“That would not lick nan problem – that would simply put different unfortunate of persistent, unwelcome beingness behaviour that interferes pinch their expertise to do their occupation successful my place,” Tyson wrote. “I americium saying that MSG has a work to measurement successful and reside this textbook intersexual harassment from 1 of its astir recognizable personalities."

The suit besides says different colleagues reported “even much egregious behaviour by Larry, including… spitting into people’s mouths.”

“Every clip we return from ‘Dancing Larry,’ much than 1 personification assigned to it laments an unwanted interaction,” Tyson wrote successful nan email to their supervisor, according to nan complaint.

Tyson’s position pinch nan Blue Crew was yet eliminated successful August 2025 aft they continued to study nan alleged misconduct, according to nan suit. The suit argues that nan determination was retaliatory, contempt having antecedently received affirmative feedback successful their capacity reviews.

Tyson is now seeking compensatory damages for mislaid wages, nonaccomplishment of employment benefits and nonaccomplishment of early earning capacity, on pinch punitive damages for MSG and nan Rangers’ “malicious, willful, wanton and reckless conduct,” positive pre-judgment and post-judgment interest.

Attorney Bhavleen Sabharwal, who is representing Tyson, declined to remark connected nan lawsuit beyond what is successful nan complaint. Dancing Larry, who is not named arsenic a suspect successful Tyson’s suit, was incapable to beryllium reached.