Thursday, November 2, 2017

NPR news chief resigns amid rising tide of misconduct allegations

As the high-profile reckoning over sexual misconduct continues, other allegations—and apologies—have arisen.

Responses, from alleged perpetrators and those linked to them, seem to vary in terms of transparency and deft language.

NPR has joined Fox News in asking for the resignation of a well-known employee in the wake of revelations about unseemly episodes.

NPR reported:

"This morning I asked Mike Oreskes for his resignation because of inappropriate behavior," NPR CEO Jarl Mohn wrote in an email to NPR staff on Wednesday. "I have received his resignation, effective immediately."

Oreskes made a brief statement, accepting responsibility and apologizing. "I am deeply sorry to the people I hurt,” he said. “My behavior was wrong and inexcusable, and I accept full responsibility."

NPR has offered transparency about its decision to part ways with Oreskes. At the time, it seemed the action was spurred by a Washington Post report.

NPR continued:

In an interview Wednesday with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly, as dozens of mainly female employees of NPR looked on, Mohn stated that one of the women who spoke with the Post first contacted NPR in 2016 about her allegations. Mohn defended his decision not to take firmer action at the time.

"The important distinction here is first, that did not happen at NPR, it was not an NPR employee. It was at The New York Times and it occurred 20 years ago," Mohn said. "Had that happened at NPR we would have had a very different reaction to it."

NPR’s CEO said he also acted after reading NPR’s reporting on the matter. "I am responding to a totality of things that have occurred,” he said, “one of which is things that have surfaced because of the published reports from the Washington Post and Folkenflik's story."

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More allegations in Hollywood

Hollywood is still in turmoil as more stories of harassment and sexual aggression are being shared openly. Dustin Hoffman has apologized after being accused of misconduct in a column in The Hollywood Reporter.

ABC News reported:

Hoffman, now 80, told THR in a statement that "I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am."

[Anna Graham] Hunter was 17 and in high school when she began interning back in 1985 on the project.

Hoffman will have to defend more than one story as others come forward.

Vulture reported:

After a mostly professional first meeting ([Murray] Schisgal allegedly asked [Wendy] Riss Gatsiounis if she was in a relationship), the playwright agreed to revise her pitch with Hoffman in mind to play the lead. During her second meeting, a few weeks later, Hoffman allegedly did not seem interested in discussing her work. She claims that Hoffman, who is nearly 30 years her senior, asked her, “Wendy — have you ever been intimate with a man over 40?” She added, ““I’ll never forget — he moves back, he opens his arms, and he says, ‘It would be a whole new body to explore.” Riss Gatsiounis alleges that Hoffman then requested she go clothes shopping with him at a nearby hotel, and that Schisgal, who was also present, urged her to go with the older actor.

Hoffman’s apology is receiving a mixed response.

The next chapter for Spacey

Actor Kevin Spacey, in light of allegations against him, has shifted his focus to receiving professional help.

Vulture reported:

A spokesperson for the House of Cards star told Variety , “Kevin Spacey is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment. No other information is available at this time.”

Warner Bros. is cutting ties with director Brett Ratner despite a multimillion-dollar agreement with him.

The New York Times reported:

One actress, Natasha Henstridge, who has appeared in films including the “Species” series and “The Whole Nine Yards,” said that Mr. Ratner had forced her to perform oral sex more than 20 years ago. Another, Olivia Munn, said Mr. Ratner had masturbated in front of her when, as an aspiring actress, she delivered food to his trailer.

Late Wednesday, Mr. Ratner issued a statement saying that “in light of the allegations being made’’ he was stepping away from all activities related to Warner Bros., the movie studio with which he has a $450 million agreement to cofinance films.

Twitter users have expressed outrage over social media posts bullying Olivia Munn, one of Ratner’s targets.

Ripples across the pond

The culture change has crossed the ocean; British Prime Minister Theresa May has had to find a successor to her defense secretary.

CNN reported:

UK Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to replace her Defense Secretary on Wednesday as a growing sexual harassment scandal added to the pressure on a government already struggling with the fallout from Brexit.

May named a key Conservative Party fixer, Gavin Williamson, to fill the post vacated after the resignation of Michael Fallon, who admitted his behavior towards women had "fallen short" during his career.

The fallout that began with Harvey Weinstein seems far from over. Organizations can be insulated from scandal only by a transparent process and decisive action.

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