Fox News host Pete Hegseth hit a marching band drummer with an ax

The June 14 broadcast of Fox & Friends featured the Hellcats, one part of the West Point Band, performing during the show. To tease a future segment, cohost Pete Hegseth tossed an ax at a target. He missed it, with the ax flying over and prompting an audible reaction from the crowd. (This can be seen on Mediaite.) A reverse angle posted by Jeff Prosperie, a drummer in the Hellcats and victim, shows the ax actually hit him.

“I was hit by an ax while performing a drum solo live on National TV…..words I never imagined saying!,” Prosperie wrote on the video he posted Saturday. “This happened last Sunday and I have been reluctant to post but starting to receive inquiries from concerned family and friends. I am thankful to God that the double sided blade only hit broadside on the outer elbow with significant impact and a couple of cuts as it fell along my wrist. It could have been much worse or fatal.”

Prosperie elaborated on the incident in a later comment: “My leadership told me they were told there would be no ax throwing. I think the anchor person went rogue and decided to throw it. He had only thrown it once before in practice for an upcoming segment and they told him to throw it with more force.”

The drummer went on air with Hegseth after the ax toss and discussed his band’s background and history. The pair acted like nothing had happened.

Fox News did not immediately respond to EW‘s request for comment.