Yesterday, as I was waiting for the dentist, I saw my feed fill up with posts sharing this story.
I performed here twice several years ago, when they first opened up and enjoyed the shows, but never cycled back there. I only met this guy once and very briefly. I read the article listing in great detail and with copious footnotes and reference checks to time after time after time this monster grabbed, assaulted, intimidated and harassed every woman mentioned and there were a lot, just in this article. Let me list how this behavior affects everyone, just in case there are any people reading this who think this isn’t a big deal.
- The women involved, whether having been shown explicit pictures to the ones who were directly raped and/or assaulted have been affected for their lives. I imagine the stress, fear and even sadly, self blame has negatively affected them physically and mentally. Also, likely damaging their current or future relationships and destroying trust in people.
- The company will likely be bankrupted from the backlash, putting, it appears, nearly 40 people out of a job. (Not putting this on the same level, but just listing yet another outcome.)
- The victims have to relive this as it cycles through the media. I think it’s great that this behavior is now in the open, but not an easy thing by any stretch.
- Families have been and will be destroyed by the decisions made by one man – marriages, children and more.
- Hopefully, prosecution and jail time for the owner very soon and very harsh.
- I have no proof, but likely several people were forced to ignore or excuse this behavior to keep their employment. The story did mention several brave individuals tried to oust the CEO, but even the first victim said she tried to rationalize her job by the fact she could stay away from him.
Plus, lastly, if you’re a man reading this – has this ever led to sweet hookups? Has any possible situation emerged in history where a man assaults a woman, pins her up against a wall, shows her a dick pic and gropes her and she screams, “Oh that’s exactly what I wanted!” before making passionate love to him. NOT ONCE EVER, YOU ANIMAL. Even if you strip all humanity from the victims, it still is repulsive to even think of a person acting in this manner at all or thinking this is acceptable in a functioning society. You really have to be a sick individual to think in this manner at any level.
I also think that it is important for women to know there are men who don’t condone this or endorse this in any way, shape or form. Legally, our system, and I believe correctly, has a burden of proof before conviction of guilt, but as a society or even on a micro level, as a friend, husband, family member or co-worker, we have to encourage women to know they don’t have to suffer this alone. Apparently, this scumbag’s actions were well known and hopefully a legal case is built off this, but it took several people coming forward to a reporter, to family and to friends to get this out in the open. These victims, and to a lesser extent, their supporters through this incidents, should be applauded. I am still bewildered and saddened that this goes on more than most of us know. Hopefully, this gives inspiration for others to come forward and stop these things sooner or even before they get started. I also hope the next assault a guy like this takes part in involves a prison shower.