Alleged Sexual Harassment at NYCFC

[Shwafta]

I did read it. I guess my point is that we can say it was only the training staff and Villa, but was there a culture in the sporting department that allowed a low-level employee to report something like this? If not, then it's bigger than just the training staff and Villa, it's an organizational culture that needs changing.

I see. I think that's the point of the article - that she had no way of going about this. She was taken off of Villa duty but put right back on. If these internal structure changes NYCFC said are true, then they are implementing that into the culture. It seems like under Vieira this was the case but after he left that sort of environment changed with it, which is interesting.

 

[LionNYC]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1331236471018287111

 

[ZYanksRule]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1331236471018287111

This is what I'm talking about in regards to Keaton. People were tweeting her to comment on Twitter about this, which is just extraordinarily unfair to Katie. Just because Brad Sims isn't commenting, doesn't mean mid-level employees should be forced to. Management or employees deemed to be responsible are the only ones that should be forced to answer for this.

 

[LionNYC]

This is what I'm talking about in regards to Keaton. People were tweeting her to comment on Twitter about this, which is just extraordinarily unfair to Katie. Just because Brad Sims isn't commenting, doesn't mean mid-level employees should be forced to. Management or employees deemed to be responsible are the only ones that should be forced to answer for this.

100%. People are employees of an organization and they are also individuals.

I understand the questions to Keaton Parks because otherwise CFG/NYCFC will respond to questions on the topic, but again they're not in good taste. If anything, asking a player who was on the team in 2018 when Villa was there would have been more suitable, if at all.

 

[SoupInNYC]

100%. People are employees of an organization and they are also individuals.

I understand the questions to Keaton Parks because otherwise CFG/NYCFC will respond to questions on the topic, but again they're not in good taste. If anything, asking a player who was on the team in 2018 when Villa was there would have been more suitable, if at all.

I get that, and I completely understand Keaton's response and him not wanting to answer it.

But the question had nothing to do with 2018 or about the actual incident itself. Here is the question asked:

"After NYCFC wrapped up its sexual harassment investigation two weeks ago, it said that it was making changes. Have you experienced any of those changes, has anybody talked to you about sexual harassment, and what have they said?"

The club mentioned it was making changes (through a statement provided to a few) and multiple requests for details about what those changes have been made and ignored. A question was asked to Ronny in a pregame presser (also related to the changes made, and not specifically about the incident) and a non-answer was provided (again, not surprised from Ronny on that and I don't blame him at all).

As Shwafta mentioned above, "If these internal structure changes NYCFC said are true, then they are implementing that into the culture."

The question was asked to a player who would be experiencing those changes, if NYCFC were acting as it said they were.

Sure, immediately after a playoff game is not ideal to be asking this. Personally, I probably wouldn't ask that question in this situation, but we're at a point where the club has ignored these questions for a while now. Have not made the appropriate people to talk about it available at all. And have not actually made a public statement themselves.

I understand why some folks don't like the way the question was asked to Keaton, etc. But I'm glad it was asked, because we do want to know if the club is doing what they've told a few outlets that they are doing.

 

[LionNYC]

That is fair. It's more likely than not that NYCFC will start to implement these changes during the offseason, which is too long to wait.

That being said, I think I brought this up when it was just her tweets...but aside from the players, training staff, coaches, sporting department, media team, and other facility personnel at the training facility, is there any HR or reporting in Orangeburg? I think all of that is in New York City offices where the victim would never be to tell anyone outside of the training staff/coaches whom she reported her incidents to.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I will also say, and I'm sure to nobody's surprise here, that the club makes it incredibly difficult to get any information out of, even if it's something that is limited information or a statement.

I don't mean to compare these two items in their seriousness or anything, but just an example, the only time we've been able to get anything from the club regarding the stadium search was with our second article twitter teaser (that a lot of people didn't like at all, which was fair).

Every other request to the club or the developer (and there's been a lot of them) have basically been ignored.

 

[VernonJohn]

I get that, and I completely understand Keaton's response and him not wanting to answer it.

But the question had nothing to do with 2018 or about the actual incident itself. Here is the question asked:

"After NYCFC wrapped up its sexual harassment investigation two weeks ago, it said that it was making changes. Have you experienced any of those changes, has anybody talked to you about sexual harassment, and what have they said?"

The club mentioned it was making changes (through a statement provided to a few) and multiple requests for details about what those changes have been made and ignored. A question was asked to Ronny in a pregame presser (also related to the changes made, and not specifically about the incident) and a non-answer was provided (again, not surprised from Ronny on that and I don't blame him at all).

As Shwafta mentioned above, "If these internal structure changes NYCFC said are true, then they are implementing that into the culture."

The question was asked to a player who would be experiencing those changes, if NYCFC were acting as it said they were.

Sure, immediately after a playoff game is not ideal to be asking this. Personally, I probably wouldn't ask that question in this situation, but we're at a point where the club has ignored these questions for a while now. Have not made the appropriate people to talk about it available at all. And have not actually made a public statement themselves.

I understand why some folks don't like the way the question was asked to Keaton, etc. But I'm glad it was asked, because we do want to know if the club is doing what they've told a few outlets that they are doing.

I think it’s terrible to put the spotlight on Keaton about an management issue after a bonkers playoff loss. It’s unfair to him and I actually think it detracts from the issue. It comes of as a “gotcha” question that is totally misplaced. Get on your gumshoes and get Reyna, Lee, Sims and whoever else was involved in running the club and get them to comment or not. Trying to make some point (management won’t talk about it) by catching someone totally uninvolved in the incident off guard? It’s lame and lazy reporting.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I think it’s terrible to put the spotlight on Keaton about an management issue after a bonkers playoff loss. It’s unfair to him and I actually think it detracts from the issue. It comes of as a “gotcha” question that is totally misplaced. Get on your gumshoes and get Reyna, Lee, Sims and whoever else was involved in running the club and get them to comment or not. Trying to make some point (management won’t talk about it) by catching someone totally uninvolved in the incident off guard? It’s lame and lazy reporting.

Fair, although I don't see what's "gotcha" about it. And again, yes Keaton was uninvolved in the incident, but the question wasn't about the incident, it was about the changes the club said they were making, which, if they were making, Keaton (and all other players and coaches) would be aware of.

I'm not sure why asking Reyna this question would be helpful because he hasn't been with the club this whole season and I assume would be completely unaware of any changes the club was making.

All attempts to ask members of the club to provide those details, before this question was asked, were ignored. Until after this question was asked.

I understand criticizing the timing of the question and whatnot. While I get that people don't like that, I'm not sure what chance this question would have to be asked until perhaps the CCL pregame presser, since everything has been ignored since then. I just don't see how asking this question to Keaton (or any player) is unfair, lame, or lazy. In fact, isn't confirming something one party has told you and affects another party, with that party, not lazy? (i.e., club says they are making changes, which would affect players and coaches, so look to confirm with them)

 

[DeGrozz]

I get that, and I completely understand Keaton's response and him not wanting to answer it.

But the question had nothing to do with 2018 or about the actual incident itself. Here is the question asked:

"After NYCFC wrapped up its sexual harassment investigation two weeks ago, it said that it was making changes. Have you experienced any of those changes, has anybody talked to you about sexual harassment, and what have they said?"

The club mentioned it was making changes (through a statement provided to a few) and multiple requests for details about what those changes have been made and ignored. A question was asked to Ronny in a pregame presser (also related to the changes made, and not specifically about the incident) and a non-answer was provided (again, not surprised from Ronny on that and I don't blame him at all).

As Shwafta mentioned above, "If these internal structure changes NYCFC said are true, then they are implementing that into the culture."

The question was asked to a player who would be experiencing those changes, if NYCFC were acting as it said they were.

Sure, immediately after a playoff game is not ideal to be asking this. Personally, I probably wouldn't ask that question in this situation, but we're at a point where the club has ignored these questions for a while now. Have not made the appropriate people to talk about it available at all. And have not actually made a public statement themselves.

I understand why some folks don't like the way the question was asked to Keaton, etc. But I'm glad it was asked, because we do want to know if the club is doing what they've told a few outlets that they are doing.

I think it's shitty to ask that question at that time.

It's a very sensitive situation that really had nothing to do with Parks. Unless Keaton was prepared to bullet point the institutional changes that were being made, which he obviously was never going to be prepared for right after losing one of the most insane knock-out games ever played, then there is no way that any reporter could reasonably expect to get any useful information out of him at that time.

It's an emotional time, it's an exhausting time, it's frustrating as hell to lose the way he just did. There was no journalistic reason to ask that question there except to send out the tweet of a non-answer and hope it got traction in the Twittersphere.

It was basically the equivalent of asking a question to a graduating senior after they lose a bowl game or NCAA tourney game to make them cry on camera. It was a asked to get a meaningless sound clip that had no chance of advancing the narrative or of obtaining any useful information in the conversation.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I think it's shitty to ask that question at that time.

It's a very sensitive situation that really had nothing to do with Parks. Unless Keaton was prepared to bullet point the institutional changes that were being made, which he obviously was never going to be prepared for right after losing one of the most insane knock-out games ever played, then there is no way that any reporter could reasonably expect to get any useful information out of him at that time.

It's an emotional time, it's an exhausting time, it's frustrating as hell to lose the way he just did. There was no journalistic reason to ask that question there except to send out the tweet of a non-answer and hope it got traction in the Twittersphere.

It was basically the equivalent of asking a question to a graduating senior after they lose a bowl game or NCAA tourney game to make them cry on camera. It was a asked to get a meaningless sound clip that had no chance of advancing the narrative or of obtaining any useful information in the conversation.

I understand why many think its shitty to ask that question at that time, I get it. Personally, I'm glad the question was asked, but I completely understand why people think it was shitty to ask it at that time.

The question had nothing to do with a long list of details such as "bullet pointing the institutional changes" or anything. So I'm not sure where that came from. In fact, it didn't ask for details at all. All it included was "have you experienced those changes" and "has anybody talked to you about sexual harassment".

And this wasn't tweeted out immediately after as some "gotcha" or to gain traction in the Twittersphere. This was only put out there after The Athletic piece came out. In fact, nothing was mentioned about this at all in The Outfield slack or anything, so I had no clue this was even asked or was part of the press conference until it was tweeted out more than two days after it happened.

 

[DeGrozz]

The question had nothing to do with a long list of details such as "bullet pointing the institutional changes" or anything. So I'm not sure where that came from. In fact, it didn't ask for details at all. All it included was "have you experienced those changes" and "has anybody talked to you about sexual harassment".

But that's my point -- I don't think there's any way to get useful information out of the question unless someone is prepared to discuss it. What good does it do to have Keaton say 'Uh, yeah, NYCFC had us read a conduct policy' or 'We had a specialist talk to us over Zoom' (which I think is the best case answer for a reporter to get) do for any journalistic efforts?

Also, I think we all expected an article to eventually drop, and The Outfield certainly wasted little time getting that clip out there to promote themselves.

It is what it is, I guess.

Just my view.

 

[SoupInNYC]

But that's my point -- I don't think there's any way to get useful information out of the question unless someone is prepared to discuss it. What good does it do to have Keaton say 'Uh, yeah, NYCFC had us read a conduct policy' or 'We had a specialist talk to us over Zoom' (which I think is the best case answer for a reporter to get) do for any journalistic efforts?

Also, I think we all expected an article to eventually drop, and The Outfield certainly wasted little time getting that clip out there to promote themselves.

It is what it is, I guess.

Just my view.

I think there is some value in a player saying those things. It does demonstrate that the club is beginning to take some action. If the answer was "no, the club hasn't said anything to us", that also demonstrates that the club isn't doing what they are saying they are doing, which also is quite useful information IMO.

If you think that tweet was self-promoting, then I'm not sure what to tell you there.

 

[Shwafta]

I get that, and I completely understand Keaton's response and him not wanting to answer it.

But the question had nothing to do with 2018 or about the actual incident itself. Here is the question asked:

"After NYCFC wrapped up its sexual harassment investigation two weeks ago, it said that it was making changes. Have you experienced any of those changes, has anybody talked to you about sexual harassment, and what have they said?"

The club mentioned it was making changes (through a statement provided to a few) and multiple requests for details about what those changes have been made and ignored. A question was asked to Ronny in a pregame presser (also related to the changes made, and not specifically about the incident) and a non-answer was provided (again, not surprised from Ronny on that and I don't blame him at all).

As Shwafta mentioned above, "If these internal structure changes NYCFC said are true, then they are implementing that into the culture."

The question was asked to a player who would be experiencing those changes, if NYCFC were acting as it said they were.

Sure, immediately after a playoff game is not ideal to be asking this. Personally, I probably wouldn't ask that question in this situation, but we're at a point where the club has ignored these questions for a while now. Have not made the appropriate people to talk about it available at all. And have not actually made a public statement themselves.

I understand why some folks don't like the way the question was asked to Keaton, etc. But I'm glad it was asked, because we do want to know if the club is doing what they've told a few outlets that they are doing.

I would have assumed personally that they're going to implement the changes in the offseason or are still working to put together some sort of 'curriculum' (for lack of a better term) and it hasn't trickled down to the players yet. Not saying that's the right way to do it, but that's what I think is actually happening behind the scenes.

...Or nothing at all, which is also plausible.

 

[LionNYC]

I would have assumed personally that they're going to implement the changes in the offseason or are still working to put together some sort of 'curriculum' (for lack of a better term) and it hasn't trickled down to the players yet. Not saying that's the right way to do it, but that's what I think is actually happening behind the scenes.

...Or nothing at all, which is also plausible.

I don't know of any organization that puts together their own materials. It will be handled by an outside agency that specializes in these HR matters.

 

[Shwafta]

I don't know of any organization that puts together their own materials. It will be handled by an outside agency that specializes in these HR matters.

Correct, but this is NYCFC we're talking about so you never know what they handle internally vs not.

At my job we also use external material for it.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

But that's my point -- I don't think there's any way to get useful information out of the question unless someone is prepared to discuss it. What good does it do to have Keaton say 'Uh, yeah, NYCFC had us read a conduct policy' or 'We had a specialist talk to us over Zoom' (which I think is the best case answer for a reporter to get) do for any journalistic efforts?

It does plenty good to tell us that the team is actually doing something.

 

[Seth]

I understand that folks want the team to say something about this but consider that they may not be able to say anything for legal reasons. It's not necessarily thickheadedness, stubbornness, or petulance, but rather that they just may not be allowed to say anything.

 

[LionNYC]

Don't think that just because Glenn Crooks isn't tweeting as soon as the story is publish doesn't mean he isn't talking about it...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1331347742434713604

 

[SoupInNYC]

I understand that folks want the team to say something about this but consider that they may not be able to say anything for legal reasons. It's not necessarily thickheadedness, stubbornness, or petulance, but rather that they just may not be allowed to say anything.

But they should be able to talk about the steps they are taking to prevent something like this from happening in the future or for helping mend the culture to encourage individuals to say something, etc. That's been what John has been trying to chase down for a while now, not necessarily specifics about the actual incident. Which, as you mentioned, they are very unlikely to be able to say something for legal reasons.