Harvey Weinstein (and assorted horrible people)... RIP career.

[Blackhawk]

Workers at a factory or wood shop saying (and doing) inappropriate stuff? Completely (not) shocking!

So you're saying that you can't expect to work in a wood shop without occasionally being raped?

I'm pretty sure that was not what he was saying.

[Zarathud]

Not what I meant and not what happened. I watched the video.

Employee after a work party did inappropriate things with a non-employee. NOT at the company. A friend of the unhappy partner was saying things about it at work (rumor mongering). The company let both employees go because of the workplace drama.

Doug the owner is stupid because he thought reacting to it on WyrmLife and being outraged about getting the company’s reputation trashed was the right move (his “truth” was they did nothing wrong and didn’t know enough to call the police). The optics of who was talking on the video were terrible, as Doug has no tact and Bobby oozes bro vibes.

I’ve worked on a manufacturing lines where women workers were openly talking about their sex lives, picking fights with each other and harassing the young college men temporarily in shipping for the summer. My mom can tell similar stories.

[Max Peck]

Not what I meant and not what happened. I watched the video.

Employee after a work party did inappropriate things with a non-employee. NOT at the company. A friend of the unhappy partner was saying things about it at work (rumor mongering). The company let both employees go because of the workplace drama.

Doug the owner is stupid because he thought reacting to it on WyrmLife and being outraged about getting the company’s reputation trashed was the right move (his “truth” was they did nothing wrong and didn’t know enough to call the police). The optics of who was talking on the video were terrible, as Doug has no tact and Bobby oozes bro vibes.

I’ve worked on a manufacturing lines where women workers were openly talking about their sex lives, picking fights with each other and harassing the young college men temporarily in shipping for the summer. My mom can tell similar stories.

And all the rest of it (in the article, not the deleted video) is perfectly normal and acceptable?

[TheMix]

Not what I meant and not what happened. I watched the video.

Employee after a work party did inappropriate things with a non-employee. NOT at the company. A friend of the unhappy partner was saying things about it at work (rumor mongering). The company let both employees go because of the workplace drama.

Doug the owner is stupid because he thought reacting to it on WyrmLife and being outraged about getting the company’s reputation trashed was the right move (his “truth” was they did nothing wrong and didn’t know enough to call the police). The optics of who was talking on the video were terrible, as Doug has no tact and Bobby oozes bro vibes.

I’ve worked on a manufacturing lines where women workers were openly talking about their sex lives, picking fights with each other and harassing the young college men temporarily in shipping for the summer. My mom can tell similar stories.

And all the rest of it (in the article, not the deleted video) is perfectly normal and acceptable?

Not sure why you keep pushing that. He said he wasn't surprised or shocked. That does not mean that he thinks it's either "normal" or "acceptable". He even explained why he wasn't surprised. Are you trying to pick a fight?

[GreenGoo]

He even explained why he wasn't surprised. Are you trying to pick a fight?

I think Max is trying to express how outrageous some of this is, while Zarathud seems to be trying to normalize it?

Just a spectator's guess.

I'm *speculating*. Zomg, the horror!

[Max Peck]

Not sure why you keep pushing that. He said he wasn't surprised or shocked. That does not mean that he thinks it's either "normal" or "acceptable". He even explained why he wasn't surprised. Are you trying to pick a fight?

Fair enough, I was just surprised by the lack of surprise, and that the apparently (as I read it, if not how it was intended) dismissive response was to the original video that kicked off the investigation that led to the article rather than to the article itself. Since it seems I'm out of line, I'll drop it and offer my apologies for shitting up the thread about shitty people.

[Zarathud]

Normalizing what?

I am observing, from personal and family experience, that shitty behavior by both sexes has been very common at blue collar manufacturing workplaces. Bored people with busy hands and idle minds. It’s not right, but it exists.

Nobody should be surprised that an io9 reporter found bad workplace behavior — that’s why HR exists at most companies, especially factories where workers often just go somewhere else after getting in HR trouble. A good person is not necessarily better at woodworking than an asshole, unlike an office where interactions impact teamwork.

As for the alleged rape, and as discussed by the lawyer on WyrmLife, no employer has a duty to police the private lives of employees. Investigate if it happens on company policy or disrupts the workplace. If anyone knows a crime was involved, call the police.

If the goal is to punish a rapist, call someone who can put them in jail. If the goal is only to get back at the company, then be outraged online.

[Isgrimnur]

"Numerous and serious failures" by prison staff enabled Jeffrey Epstein's suicide, Justice Dept watchdog report finds

Notably, a fellow inmate told investigators that prison guards walked on "eggshells" around Epstein and the inspector general's report identified a series of irregularities in treatment, including hours-long attorney meetings, unrecorded phone calls and the excess bedding materials, which he ultimately used to hang himself.

In one instance, on the night before he died, staff allowed Epstein to place an unrecorded phone call after he asked to call his mother. Rules required such calls to be placed on a recorded and monitored line and investigators later established Esptein's mother was deceased at the time. Still, a unit manager said he escorted Epstein to a phone and dialed a number for him. After a male answered, according to the report, the manager handed the phone to Epstein and left "because his shift had ended."

[Jaymann]

Enabled as in Dr. Kevorkian.

[Grifman]

Ghislaine Naxwell, prison Karen

https://themessenger.com/news/ghislaine ... ail-report

“Not enough black hair dye”

[Smoove_B]

Deadline

Danny Masterson will face charges of rape, a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge ruled Monday.

Deadline

The jury in the former That ’70s Show star’s trial say they were unable to reach a verdict on any of the three criminal counts that Masterson faced.

The six-man/six-woman panel informed Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo on Wednesday afternoon that they were stuck. “After thorough and considerable discussion, it is clear that we as jurors are adamant about maintaining our individual positions on each of the three counts,” the jurors said in a letter read aloud by Olmedo. Soon after, the judge formally declared a mistrial, something the defense has sought almost since Day 1 of testimony back in late October.

A retrial date of March 27 has been penciled in. and Masterson remains free on bail of $3.3 million. A hearing on next steps set for January 10.

Sentenced to 30 years to life.

Prosecutors in Los Angeles said the rapes occurred in 2003 while Masterson, now 47, was starring in the hit sitcom "That '70s Show."

[Isgrimnur]

The suppressive persons can't get you in prison.

[Smoove_B]

I do kinda wonder what kind of accommodations Scientologists find while incarcerated. I guess we'll see.

[Unagi]

I could just be not remembering correctly - but I don't think I've ever seen a 'life' sentence for rape before (that wasn’t involving a minor)

[Isgrimnur]

[Jaymann]

I could just be not remembering correctly - but I don't think I've ever seen a 'life' sentence for rape before (that wasn’t involving a minor)

They added on extra time for those sideburns.

[Unagi]

Lol. Okay that interview didn’t age well.

Something tells me he may break his own ‘bitch’ record in the years to come.

Also, those parting words.

[Isgrimnur]

Ashton Kutcher resigns from anti-child abuse charity over support for rapist Danny Masterson

In his resignation to the charity, Thorn, Kutcher said his support letter was an "error in judgement".
...
In a resignation letter directed to the board of Thorn and posted online, Kutcher said his decision to step down from the board is "rooted in the recognition of recent events".

"After my wife and I spent several days of listening, personal reflection, learning and conversations with survivors and the employees and leadership at Thorn, I have determined the responsible thing for me to do is resign as chairman of the board, effective immediately," Kutcher said in the resignation letter.

"I cannot allow my error in judgment to distract from our efforts and the children we serve," he added.

Established by Kutcher and ex-wife Demi Moore in 2012, Thorn focuses on combatting sexual exploitation of children.

[Isgrimnur]

Russell Brand postpones comedy tour following sexual assault allegations

Russell Brand has postponed his remaining U.K. comedy shows following the publication of multiple sexual abuse allegations against him over the weekend.

Brand was accused of sexual and emotional abuse by four women in a joint investigation by the Times of London, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches. The comedian turned wellness influencer denied the allegations, saying that all of his relationships have been consensual.
...
The Times of London, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches spoke to four women, one of whom said she had a three month relationship with Brand when she was 16 years old.

That woman, who identified as Alice, said Brand was 31 at the time and alleged that he forced her to perform oral sex. Brand did not stop until she punched him in the stomach, she told The Times.

She also alleged that although she was of legal consenting age in the U.K., Brand guided her on how to present their relationship to her family and to save his contact under a different name. She also told The Times she reached out to Brand's literary agency in 2020 with her allegations.

Tavistock Wood Management Agency said Sunday that they dropped Brand as a client, adding that they were "horribly misled" by him.

Another woman, who was identified by the name Nadia, accused Brand of raping her at his Los Angeles residence in 2012. She said Brand invited her to the home after they'd had consensual sex once before, but on this occasion wanted a "friend" to join them, according to The Times.

When she refused, Brand held her against a wall and raped her, Nadia alleged.

[Fireball]

It's always the ones you most expect.

Nation Could Have Sworn Russell Brand Was Already Convicted Sex Offender

[Max Peck]

I had no real idea who Russell Brand was, so I googled him. Judging solely by appearance, he has a lot of Charles Manson energy going for him if nothing else.

[hitbyambulance]

this is the only place i know this guy from:

[Jaymann]

I've seen him on a few podcasts, mostly just being brit 'ish. Not particularly funny, and often seemed to be contentious just for the sake of being so.

[hitbyambulance]

i don't think Danny Elfman's career is in trouble... yet...

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-a ... g-composer

[Blackhawk]

Maybe we should just start a list of celebrities who aren't awful.

[Max Peck]

Maybe we should just start a list of celebrities who aren't awful.

That won't end well.

[Isgrimnur]

people still decent that you thought were horrible?

[Smoove_B]

Jurors deliberated for five full days before finding Maxwell guilty of five of six counts.
...
Maxwell still awaits trial on two counts of perjury.

Not so much an update on her perjury, but she has finally made a public statement now that the Epstein documents are allegedly going to be release soon (his list of connections) via her lawyer:

Maxwell’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said on NewsNation’s Cuomo that Maxwell has “nothing to say” about the impending release of names—but that the former socialite takes issue with the fact that the only person facing consequences over the rampant sex trafficking of young girls is a woman. “I don’t think she has anything to talk about except maybe that if you look at this crime, this overall crime, it’s all about men abusing women for a long period of time… and it’s only one person in jail—a woman,” Aidala said.

That's definitely an interesting observation. I'm still a little surprised she didn't have information to share when she was being charged / sentenced that would have helped to address that. To be clear, I'm not victim blaming, I'm just genuinely surprised she didn't name names and offer additional evidence supporting the belief that more people were involved.

[LordMortis]

And a guy "who killed himself" in jail who was your co-conspirator. That said, I'm all for going after others. Name some names.

[Zarathud]

For someone who has nothing to say, that’s pretty telling as the dirt is about to be made public.

[Pyperkub]

Well, it's public, but not organized apparently... massive document dump

Hundreds of pages of unsealed documents from a lawsuit connected to accused sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein were publicly released on Wednesday. The documents are expected to include nearly 200 names, including some of Epstein’s accusers, prominent businesspeople, politicians and potentially more.

This is the first set of documents to be unsealed as part of a December 18 court order; more are expected as part of the order.

CNN is now reviewing the documents.

More to come too...

[Zarathud]

I expect defamation litigators are lining up their clients in preparation.

[Pyperkub]

I expect defamation litigators are lining up their clients in preparation.

Not sure why, these are all official court documents.

[Moliere]

Posted here. pdf and txt files of the exhibits.

[Victoria Raverna]

So which famous people's names are in there other than Clinton, Gates and Trump?

[malchior]

So which famous people's names are in there other than Clinton, Gates and Trump?

Found my first concrete name - Tom Pritzker - in the depositions. Virginia Giuffre confirms in a deposition that Epstein trafficker her with him.

[Victoria Raverna]

But Hamas is worse:

[hepcat]

Hamas victimized far more women in a much more savage and brutal manner, but they’re both evil and awful at the end of the day.

[Victoria Raverna]

Trump was very closely connected to Epstein and some of Epstein's victims:

[Carpet_pissr]

Surprising no one, considering his past lecherous behavior and comments.

I did see that RFK Jr. has surfaced as a name on The List as of today.