U.S. journalist faces sexual harassment furor over memoir

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters




OCTOBER 28, 2017 / 6:48 PM / UPDATED 11 HOURS AGO

Dan Whitcomb

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Rolling Stone journalist and author canceled one of his two appearances at a humanities festival in Chicago on Saturday after backlash over a memoir he co-wrote in 2000, which critics say recounts his sexual harassment of female employees.

Matt Taibbi, author of a new book about the death of a 43-year-old black man, Eric Garner, at the hands of the New York City Police Department, was unable to attend a Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) event due to “scheduling demands,” organizers said.

Festival spokesman Joe Engleman did not comment on whether Taibbi’s cancellation was directly related to the outcry but characterized his appearance as part of its promotion of public debate about police violence.

“CHF believes that Mr. Taibbi’s investigative work into Eric Garner’s death merits attention and an opportunity to continue the national conversation concerning state violence against people of color,” Engleman told Reuters.



Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-taibbi/u-s-journalist-faces-sexual-harassment-furor-over-memoir-idUSKBN1CX0QC

[mercuryblues]

1. Admitting to rape is finally

being taken seriously.

When will it be the serial assaulter in chief's turn?

[cilla4progress]

2. Rampant

And systemic.

I don’t suppose in 2000 Taibinwould consider it entertaining or acceptable to harass POC. But women - fair game.

[Maggiemayhem]

3. So is it fiction or nonfiction or satire?

I cannot come to a conclusion from the article by Reuters.i want more info before I pass judgement. Not falling for distractions over something that may or may not have happened pre 2000 in Russia. Give me more info.

[PatSeg]

4. The authors claim it was satire

Until I hear more, I will take it as such. This does feel like a distraction.

[LisaL]

6. Now they claim it was satire.

Yet the note in the book reportedly says it is non-fiction.

[PatSeg]

8. Okay, that is disturbing then

I really like Taibbi's writing. What a shame.

[LisaL]

5. From what has been reported, a note in the book states its non-fiction.

It also states that characters are real, but some names have been changed. So when they published it, they were passing it off as non-fiction. Now they claim it was satire. Not sure what you point is regarding it happening or not happening in Russia. Does location somehow makes a difference? Would it be o'key to harass women in other countries? If country is suffering from economic turmoil, does it make o'key to harass employees?

[DeltaLitProf]

7. Yes, Taibbi is a great analyst but . . .

. . . part of his appeal has always been that he is a frat boy--mischievous, crass, snarky, sneering--for the Left. And it should be no surprise he has behaved as his identity suggests he would.

[LisaL]

9. I wouldn't characterize telling female employees that if they wanted to keep their jobs,

they have to perform certain sexual acts (which is what is claimed in the book they were doing to their employees) as "mischievous."