# Sexual Harassment/Assault/Workplace Bullying omnibus thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 4, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573 "2017-12-04T20:36:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/1 "2017-12-04T20:36:13Z")
An omnibus thread may not be necessary, but in case folks want to keep track of the public figures who are accused of these kinds of wrong behavior, they can be noted here. I am putting this in the Pit so as not to limit any vituperation that may be appropriate. The latest I heard about is [John Hockenberry](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/John-Hockenberry-Former-Host-of-WNYCs-The-Takeaway-Accused-of-Sexual-Misconduct-461567413.html), former host of the NPR radio program The Takeaway, which is produced by WNYC. A one-time guest on the program, Suki Kim, was on the wrong end of his apparent abuse, and so she started researching others on the show, including three women of color who had raised complaints about Hockenberry’s behavior and who were either let go or left the show. So a large part of Ms Kim’s accusations are against the station management for ignoring what she describes as 10 years of complaints. Here is his statement in response: > [@John Hockenberry](#): > > Looking back, my behavior was not always appropriate and I’m sorry. It horrifies me that I made the talented and driven people I worked with feel uncomfortable, and that the stress around putting together a great show was made worse by my behavior. > > Having to deal with my own physical limitations has given me an understanding of powerlessness, and I should have been more aware of how the power I wielded over others, coupled with inappropriate comments and communications, could be construed. I have no excuses. I will leave it to others whether these words are sufficient. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/2 "2017-12-04T20:46:13Z")
Cali Assemblyman forced a lobbyist into a bathroom and masturbated in front of her. > **[California assemblyman accused of forcing lobbyist into bathroom and...](https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-matt-dababneh-harassment-20171204-story.html)** > > Sacramento lobbyist Pamela Lopez has claimed that, in 2016, Democratic Assemblyman Matt Dababneh followed her into a bathroom, masturbated in front of her and urged her to touch him. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/3 "2017-12-05T05:04:00Z")
Another one: [James Levine of the Metropolitan Opera](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/03/arts/music/james-levine-met-opera.html). Apparently he has been abusing teenage boys associated with places he has worked, such as the Ravinia Festival, since 1968. Jeebus, how does someone get away with something like that for so long? Never mind, rhetorical question. ---
**Author:** ![Squallous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@Squallous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squallous)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/4 "2017-12-05T18:37:47Z")
John Conyers just resigned!! YAY!! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/5 "2017-12-05T18:43:11Z")
[Danny Masterson has been fired from _The Ranch_](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/danny-masterson-rape-allegations-fired-netflix-the-ranch/) after 4 women came forward with rape allegations. At least some of these allegations were reported to the police at the time they occurred, but there are further allegations that the church of Scientology (all were members) pressured the women to withdraw the charges and/or helped cover up the crime. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/6 "2017-12-05T18:58:41Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > [Danny Masterson has been fired from _The Ranch_](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/danny-masterson-rape-allegations-fired-netflix-the-ranch/) after 4 women came forward with rape allegations. At least some of these allegations were reported to the police at the time they occurred, but there are further allegations that the church of Scientology (all were members) pressured the women to withdraw the charges and/or helped cover up the crime. YES!!! Finally!!! This has been going on for a VERY long time. The women went public over a year ago. The LAPD hasn’t been doing anything most likely because of Scientology involvement. I’m SO glad to read this. He really was brutal. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/7 "2017-12-05T19:01:21Z")
[Journalist accuses Rev. Jesse Jackson, director John Singleton of sexual harassment](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/rev-jesse-jackson-john-singleton-accused-sexual-harassment-article-1.3617222) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/8 "2017-12-05T23:09:49Z")
[Top gossip editor accused of sexual misconduct](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ap-exclusive-top-gossip-editor-accused-of-sexual-misconduct/ar-BBGgZWt) > [@](#): > > Howard’s self-proclaimed nickname was “Dildo,” Holy Shit! > [@](#): > > His conduct led to an internal inquiry in 2012 by an outside consultant, and former employees said he stopped working out of the L.A. office after the inquiry. > > Howard quit soon after the report was completed, but the company rehired him one year later with a promotion that landed him in the company’s main office in New York Are you fucking kidding me?!?!?!? They talked with 12 people: > [@](#): > > Most of the former employees spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they had signed nondisclosure agreements, sometimes as part of severance packages. > > Two former employees, one a senior manager and another a reporter in the L.A. office, agreed to be publicly identified to discuss Howard’s behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/9 "2017-12-06T19:57:37Z")
[Corey Feldman’s 1993 audio files naming alleged sexual predators found by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/corey-feldmans-1993-audio-files-naming-alleged-sexual-predators-found-by-santa-barbara-county-sheriffs-office/ar-BBGj0R0) > [@](#): > > The former child actor claimed in October that he had given the names of sexual predators in Hollywood to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office in 1993 during their invesigtation into Michael Jackson’s molestation charges. The Sheriff’s Office denied those claims, saying they had no records of Feldman revealing such information, until now. Ooops. > [@](#): > > “Following the recent inquiries into the Sheriff’s Office interview of Mr. Feldman in 1993, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office conducted an additional review for any stored items remaining from the Michael Jackson investigation. In a container which included the original reports from the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office located some detective working copies of audio recordings made during the investigation. A copy of Mr. Feldman’s interview was located. The recording is being turned over to the Los Angeles Police Department. Due to the fact that this case involves the alleged sexual abuse of a child, we are unable to comment further and any documentation or evidence related to this case is exempt from release.” Better late than never I suppose. I hope the suspects are still alive. > [@](#): > > The “Stand By Me” star has launched a campaign to raise $10 million in order to make a movie about sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/10 "2017-12-07T18:05:47Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > [Corey Feldman’s 1993 audio files naming alleged sexual predators found by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/corey-feldmans-1993-audio-files-naming-alleged-sexual-predators-found-by-santa-barbara-county-sheriffs-office/ar-BBGj0R0) > > Ooops. > > Better late than never I suppose. I hope the suspects are still alive. No official word that he actually named anyone just that they found the recording. As far as I know he has named everyone since then so there shouldn’t be any big revelations or changes. At best it would just prove that he was right when he said he told police. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/11 "2017-12-08T18:04:57Z")
I’m guessing that we are going to be hearing the name Bryan Singer a bunch in the next little while. He was just fired from the Freddy Mercury biopic. He was accused of [raping a 17 year old](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bryan-singer-allegations-rape-boy_us_5a29ea32e4b073789f689a5e) boy. Also, this isn’t the first time his name has swirled around these sorts of allegations. ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/12 "2017-12-09T13:39:27Z")
This being done wrong. There should be two threads in the IMHO forum for each perp, enabled for polling. One to rate the seriousness of the offense on a scale of 1 to 10 and one to rate the apology on a scale of 1 to 10. Shouldn’t be limited to public figures either, let’s get everybody out there. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/13 "2017-12-09T13:42:37Z")
> [@Squallous](#): > > John Conyers just resigned!! YAY!! Hopefully the president will learn from this and resign as well. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/14 "2017-12-09T17:15:23Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Hopefully the president will learn from this and resign as well. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Funniest thing I’ve read in a long time! Seriously, in order to be shamed into resigned he would have to be capable of feeling shame. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/15 "2017-12-09T17:24:49Z")
I don’t get the sense that there was much shame behind Conyers’ resignation (nor behind Al Franken’s resignation to come). Just bowing to public pressure, especially from their own side. Trump’s side clearly doesn’t care, so there is no pressure to bow to. Next on the list is [Federal Appeals Court Justice Alex Kozinski,](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/08/569559223/federal-appeals-judge-alex-kozinski-accused-of-sexual-harassment) on the 9th Circuit here in San Francisco. He says that “it is regrettable if a handful have been offended by what I may have said or done.” Clearly a 0.5 on the apology scale. I’ll leave it to someone else to rate the actual offenses alleged by his denouncers. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/16 "2017-12-09T18:21:03Z")
> [@ThisIsTheEnd](#): > > This being done wrong. > > There should be two threads in the IMHO forum for each perp, enabled for polling. One to rate the seriousness of the offense on a scale of 1 to 10 and one to rate the apology on a scale of 1 to 10. Shouldn’t be limited to public figures either, let’s get everybody out there. Lets…all the enablers too!! Anybody got a link to a good summary of all of them Post-Weinstein? It would be interesting to categorize each… political, journalism, entertainment, Fortune 500, etc ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/17 "2017-12-09T18:49:01Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Cali Assemblyman forced a lobbyist into a bathroom and masturbated in front of her. > > [http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-matt-dababneh-harassment-20171204-story.html](http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-matt-dababneh-harassment-20171204-story.html) And he is resigning too. Too defend himself against these ‘baseless’ charges. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/18 "2017-12-11T00:48:55Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I don’t get the sense that there was much shame behind Conyers’ resignation (nor behind Al Franken’s resignation to come). Just bowing to public pressure, especially from their own side. Trump’s side clearly doesn’t care, so there is no pressure to bow to. > > Next on the list is [Federal Appeals Court Justice Alex Kozinski,](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/08/569559223/federal-appeals-judge-alex-kozinski-accused-of-sexual-harassment) on the 9th Circuit here in San Francisco. He says that “it is regrettable if a handful have been offended by what I may have said or done.” Clearly a 0.5 on the apology scale. I’ll leave it to someone else to rate the actual offenses alleged by his denouncers. The word ‘if’ negates the impact of most apologies, as it’s intended to do. A music executive for Disney [has been charged w/ child sexual abuse](http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/jon-heely-disney-music-group-child-sex-abuse-1202634502/). ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/19 "2017-12-11T04:54:23Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > A music executive for Disney [has been charged w/ child sexual abuse](http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/jon-heely-disney-music-group-child-sex-abuse-1202634502/). All of Disney is a kind of perversion, as far as I’m concerned, but that’s for another thread. These charges can bring heavy jail time (9 years plus in this case), so perhaps it’s not surprising that the person charged is completely denying the charges and his lawyer vows to fight “to the end to clear his name.” And Disney has only suspended, not fired him. Two girls (now women) accusing him of child molestation, and perhaps because he will actually face a trial, he is innocent until proved guilty. For the others, adult women make charges that will never go to trial, and the accusee is fired or forced to resign, and branded a pariah. Unless he’s a Republican, of course, and then it is nothing to talk about and the women are probably liars. Anyway, I’d be more comfortable with some consistency, but this is a giant boil being lanced and it’s going to take a while for some sort of normal order to assert itself. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573/20 "2017-12-11T17:11:13Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > All of Disney is a kind of perversion, as far as I’m concerned, but that’s for another thread. > > These charges can bring heavy jail time (9 years plus in this case), so perhaps it’s not surprising that the person charged is completely denying the charges and his lawyer vows to fight “to the end to clear his name.” And Disney has only suspended, not fired him. Two girls (now women) accusing him of child molestation, and perhaps because he will actually face a trial, he is innocent until proved guilty. For the others, adult women make charges that will never go to trial, and the accusee is fired or forced to resign, and branded a pariah. Unless he’s a Republican, of course, and then it is nothing to talk about and the women are probably liars. Anyway, I’d be more comfortable with some consistency, but this is a giant boil being lanced and it’s going to take a while for some sort of normal order to assert itself. There will be a new normal, I hope, a normal that’s more likely to be equal in many more ways than now. One caveat to what you wrote - not all the accusers have been adults or women and I think that speaks to the breadth of the problem w/ power imbalance being at the root of these incidences as much, if nor more so than, sexual attraction. A doctor who can call off a gymnast’s career for all intents and purposes takes sexual advantage of pubescent gymnasts for nearly a generation. A powerful agent repeatedly grabs the genitals of an actor in front of other people, secure in the knowledge that actor will have trouble finding work if they complain. A millionaire waits until the woman interviewing him is alone in a room to press against and try to make out w/ her knowing she needs his compliance for her story. None of these assailants would have tried to make the move they wanted to had they not held more power than the victims they had in mind. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-harassment-assault-workplace-bullying-omnibus-thread/803573.md?page=2)