Mod Edit: Please move on from the off-site baggage and community comparisons. Focus on the story the thread is about and do not feed into inter-forum drama.
https://www.refinery29.com/2018/07/203982/feminist-apparel-ceo-alan-martofel-fires-staff
Absolutely insane story of an Onion opinion columnist come to life:
It all came to a grinding halt in June of 2018 when Feminist Apparel staff discovered that the brand's founder and CEO Alan Martofel had an admitted history of sexually abusing women. In fact, he claims it's the reason why he started the company in the first place. After asking for his resignation, all nine employees were fired without notice or severance. (Only Martfel and an outside consultant remained.)
On June 21, Feminist Apparel was tagged in a Facebook post accusing Martofel of rape. The employees investigated and found a Facebook post that Martofel wrote in 2013 that describes his own sexual abuse of women, how he came to learn about rape culture, and that he was starting a company called Feminist Apparel as his "humble attempt" to "solve it."
"We've all either faced this firsthand, seen it, heard a firsthand account of it, or are guilty of it ourselves," Martofel wrote in the the post. "I'm someone who's guilty of it. I've grinded up on women on buses and at concerts without their consent. I've made out with 'the drunk chick' at a party because it was easier. I've put a woman's hand on my dick while she was sleeping."
"While I continue to regret my past behaviors, my ongoing reflection and conversations regarding them have helped to shape me into who I am and have given me the tools to build an organization that has always strived to be a safe and welcoming space for all," he wrote in the post. "Sadly, in the meeting that took place with my now-former employees last Friday, I was made aware that they, unequivocally, do not share my views on either business or feminism. It is then that the operations of the company were halted for a week, while all employees continued to be paid and I assessed all available options for how to move forward at this juncture. After much deliberation, and in accordance with both state law and our employee handbook, I made the difficult decision to proceed without them. I truly believe in Feminist Apparel, it's [sic] mission, and in the important causes and individuals it supports. As a result, I also need to do what is best for the company's long-term success."
Really fucked up that these people were working for him while he was secretly (or not so secretly) the monster their shirts fought against.
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