Thread by @ketakirituraj

Circling back to the AdWorld's #MeToo after a while.
A grand total of 13 Men were accused, some anonymously, some openly.
Subsequent posts will examine what happened (or didn't) with them, and with the ad world in general. #TimesUp #Advertising #MeToo

https://twitter.com/ketakirituraj/status/1049524168771952640

After the usual "shocked" "outraged" etc. reactions - mostly from men (sidenote: seriously, though, was this truly any surprise??), the big networks distanced themselves from the perpetrators. DAN went first, with the following

campaignasia.com/article/dentsu…

Followed quickly by Publicis.

Of course, it makes complete economic as well as PR sense to NOT have sexual harassment accused on payroll, for globally aligned and fairly well known companies

campaignasia.com/article/metoo-…

All the 'small' agencies meanwhile - after the first politically correct statements, quieted down, and the accused (typically the founders) hunkered down to wait/brave it out.

#MeToo #MeTooIndia #TimesUp #advertising

Interestingly, @DDBMudra_Group / @22feettribalww also maintained a stony silence after the first official statement. Nothing more than the accussed 'going on leave' seems to have happened.

cc: @skhndh @AnooBhu @TheRestlessQuil @IndiaMeToo

Brand Equity, Campaign India/Asia etc. chronicled (somewhat halfheartedly) - the accusations and the responses. And for a time there seemed to be some pressure on the accused to remove themselves. At least for now!

#TimesUp #advertising

…ndequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/advertisi…

In the case of @Creativeland , there was not even the pretence of an investigation.
Famous Innovations declared that there were no complaints on record against Raj Kamble. This despite his accuser NOT being anonymous. @e_lisha

#TimesUp #MeToo
cc: @skhndh @AnooBhu @cindygallop

@Utopeia_Loves sent Mr. Banerjee on leave but has brought him back now. He continues to claim that the #MeToo allegations are a 'criminal conspiracy' and that 3 of 4 stories are fake, Which I can verify they aren't!

cc: @TheRestlessQuil @skhndh @AnooBhu campaignasia.com/article/utopei…

And I'm not the only source. The survivor's stories are available on a 'registered users only'site @CampaignAsia, while the Accused's tale, is available freely to the Indian audience reading @Campaign_India
Sad to see your level of support @Campaign_India

campaignasia.com/article/detail…

It's hard enough for the survivors to move on, and keep their careers from being derailed. Harder to tell their tale. And then the #patriarchy does its best to silence the stories. Of course. Not new at all. Why didn't you publish both articles @Campaign_India
cc: @cindygallop

And of course - the men have little to worry about, including their rehabilitation.
Some never left, some are back from their 'leave', and some have easily moved on.
#MeTooIndia #TimesUp #advertising

https://twitter.com/TheRestlessQuil/status/1057304283853422592

Along the way - we did hear from the Women leaders in advertising, who formed the collective. A noble initiative, no doubt. But one that's sadly gone silent in the days since this open letter.

cc: @skhndh @cindygallop

…ndequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/advertisi…

While it is to be believed that they are looking into legal options behind the scenes, the tragedy is that if this takes so long, the accused will be back in the saddle, and accusers will fade back into anonymity simply because that's safer! #MeToo #MeTooIndia

cc:@tistathinks

Why bother chronicling this? again?
Because it is a reminder of just how deeply entrenched sexism, harassment, and gender inequity in all its forms is, in advertising.

cc: @cindygallop @IndiaMeToo @AnooBhu @CampaignAsia @Campaign_India

And how hopeless, to even bother raising one's voice.
Indian advertising, you continue to fail your women. Someday, they will fail you.

#Timesup #advertsing #MeTooIndia