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Lots of ppl have made impt points about The Letter. But I’m still thinking about the minimizing of sexual harassment to “flirting” – bc it’s not. It's an abuse of power.
So let me spell it out for you and anyone confused, with one small example.
So let me spell it out for you and anyone confused, with one small example.
When we met 8 yrs ago at an industry event in NYC, I was not "looking for love." I traveled from Philly for professional connections as a freelancer 1+ yrs into the game. And I was excited to meet someone who worked at Radiolab! One of the few longform shops back then, a place
that felt like a fortress out of reach.
I told you I wanted to pitch Radiolab, but instead of seeing me as a potential contributor, you immediately started treating me as a romantic/sexual object.
You told me I was too pretty for my pitches to be taken seriously at the show.
I told you I wanted to pitch Radiolab, but instead of seeing me as a potential contributor, you immediately started treating me as a romantic/sexual object.
You told me I was too pretty for my pitches to be taken seriously at the show.
And you aggressively pursued me that night, in ways that made me feel uncomfortable and humiliated, even still to this day.
Again, not the most serious offense ever! But over the yrs, I learned this behavior was a consistent pattern - you trying to get with colleagues,
Again, not the most serious offense ever! But over the yrs, I learned this behavior was a consistent pattern - you trying to get with colleagues,
often those with less power. (Plz note: this doesn’t even include the harassment I heard about later, the dumping of beers on heads, etc.)
Should be obvious, but PSA: it is *most likely never* a good idea to be “looking for love” at your workplace and/or industry events.
Should be obvious, but PSA: it is *most likely never* a good idea to be “looking for love” at your workplace and/or industry events.
Bc people generally just wanna do good work without being hit on ok?
And bc whether you're aware or not, your relative amount of power at a fancy show can make ppl around you feel obligated, slow to resist, afraid to speak up, or just so tired they wanna hang up their hat.
And bc whether you're aware or not, your relative amount of power at a fancy show can make ppl around you feel obligated, slow to resist, afraid to speak up, or just so tired they wanna hang up their hat.
Look, I don’t relish anyone losing their job. I don’t think it’s fair to write anyone off. We're all in this community together for the long haul, I hope.
So while orgs might displace responsibility bc bad behavior happened at another job, we don't have to.
So while orgs might displace responsibility bc bad behavior happened at another job, we don't have to.
Tbh I wish you could’ve found a way to reflect and make amends. You've had time. You still have the opp.
But for real, it's not just about you. It's about ppl like you. And enablers. And creating systems to stop misbehavior early/often to avoid shitstorms, for everyone's sake.
But for real, it's not just about you. It's about ppl like you. And enablers. And creating systems to stop misbehavior early/often to avoid shitstorms, for everyone's sake.
Mainly tho, I’m grieving about Kelsey and anyone pushed out of our industry by ppl like you. I’m imagining the brilliant work they would have made and all their other brilliant contributions: friendships, third coast talks, mentorship, leadership.
Now THAT’S the real tragedy.
Now THAT’S the real tragedy.
