What pleasure does it give a man to think with the wrong head in a professional setting? How does a predator continue to provide for his family and keep his status, enabling him at the highest level to continue his explicit acts?
More often than not, women in sports are preyed on at all levels, specifically sports journalism – an industry that has a history of sexual harassment (Erin Andrews, Washington Redskins). This has been a continuous trend. These hideous acts from cowards should not go unnoticed. The fact of the matter is, women in sports, especially our sisters of color, need our protection from these senseless and entitled beasts.
Former GM of the New York Mets, Jared Porter, was fired this morning due to an investigation that discovered during the 2016 season, Jared sent over 60 text messages to an unnamed woman employee. Among the messages were several sexually explicit messages, included a picture of Porter’s penis.
After not getting a response to over 60 messages, Porter still felt obligated to send the nude picture.
After an investigation confirmed he sent the messages, Jared was terminated. What I can’t fathom is that this report done by ESPN originated in 2016. The Mets knew of the allegations and were conducting their own internal review, which revealed the accuser was telling the truth. So after having evidence against the GM, the Mets still felt the need to give him a second chance. A second chance to send nudes. A second chance to make another women victims to sexual exploitation.
What should worry anyone, not just those in this profession, is that these victims are being black-balled. Women are scared to reveal the truth due to being shut out from their employers. They’re afraid of having their careers ruined, denying them the ability to protect their livelihoods. Half of these victims are scared of ever coming forward. Quite frankly it is sick that it ever comes to that.
Being silent is complicit. Having knowledge of these heinous acts, but refusing to voice your displeasure is just the same as committing the crime yourself. In a male dominated industry, these women are often preyed on because quite frankly, individuals think they’re just a piece of ass. Let’s change this narrative and ban the assailants from ever harming our women within any profession again.