Felicia Sonmez Profile picture
Aug 26, 2019 18 tweets 12 min read Read on X
My response to @EmilyYoffe's @reason piece on Jonathan Kaiman is here: bit.ly/2Hn1Rv9 I've written to @kmanguward and other editors requesting that they correct the piece. In her 8,000-word story, there was a lot Ms. Yoffe got wrong, so please forgive the length. (1/2)
@EmilyYoffe @reason @kmanguward Here's the rest. As I point out, contrary to Ms. Yoffe's claim, there was no "mob justice" in this case. There was in fact a three-month investigation into numerous allegations against Mr. Kaiman. Ms. Yoffe omitted this and much more in her piece. (2/2)
@EmilyYoffe @reason @kmanguward Among the accusations omitted by Ms. Yoffe was this one, which was made publicly months before I came forward.
@EmilyYoffe @reason @kmanguward Ms. Yoffe also got basic facts wrong. Her article misquotes statements from an FCCC meeting, and claims the organization sent out my accusation on Twitter. It never did.
@EmilyYoffe @reason @kmanguward Perhaps most unfortunately, for a piece touted by @kmanguward as a "deep dive," Ms. Yoffe seems not to have dived very far. She dismisses an alleged 2011 incident as "long-ago," and it's unclear whether she even bothered to try to reach the person involved.
@EmilyYoffe @reason @kmanguward Ms. Yoffe incorrectly claims that Mr. Kaiman "fiercely disputed" my account. In reality, he has confirmed key parts of it.
@EmilyYoffe @reason @kmanguward Mr. Kaiman's behavior was not limited to just two incidents, as Ms. Yoffe claims. There was an allegation of inappropriate behavior shared within the FCCC before Ms. Tucker or I came forward, and many more shared afterward. A little reporting would have revealed that and more.
@EmilyYoffe @reason @kmanguward Ms. Yoffe and her editors also leave key questions hanging. The piece mentions Mr. Kaiman's six-figure book advance, but then goes on to describe him as "jobless and homeless" without making any mention of whether he was allowed to keep it. This seems like relevant information.
@EmilyYoffe @reason @kmanguward At one point, Ms. Yoffe insinuates that I benefited professionally from making an accusation of sexual misconduct. The truth is that speaking out has had consequences -- including being the subject of an error-laden story such as this one. But it is a decision I stand by today.
@EmilyYoffe @reason @kmanguward To those who still think this case was an example of "moral panic" and "mob justice," consider that I spent three months reliving the worst night of my life in painful detail -- first for one investigation, and then all over again once the second one began.
I spent more than eight hours speaking with investigators -- including on the day I interviewed for my current job. I probably lost about 10 pounds in the process, and I wouldn't have eaten if friends hadn't come by and kept bringing me food.
In the weeks after I came forward, I wasn't able to bike or drive. I was afraid to cross the street because I feared I'd get hit by a car. Eventually I made it to the supermarket and just stood in the aisle, staring blankly at bottles of shampoo without processing anything.
Those weeks were the scariest thing I've ever experienced. I know Mr. Kaiman's other accusers have faced similar difficulties. And even months after life started getting back to normal, I still refused to put my name on my mailbox at home because I was afraid.
I kept my desk at work clear for months -- something a few colleagues noticed and joked about as they passed by. But it was because I was having a hard time believing I was really there.
Eventually, the investigation finished, Mr. Kaiman lost his job, and every now and then he'd rear his head to do a media interview and a reporter would reach out to me for comment. I mostly said little. I tried to keep my head down at work, do a good job, and move on. And I have.
Pieces like Ms. Yoffe's make it more difficult, but I'll keep moving on. And any more false claims of "mob justice," I'll continue to rebut. Mr. Kaiman had not one, but two, thorough investigations. He may not agree with the outcome, but his treatment of women had consequences.
Reason Magazine should be ashamed of publishing this piece, but I know I can't expect that much, so at the very least I hope the editors will correct Ms. Yoffe's many errors.
And for anyone else out there who has experienced misconduct and is scared to death about speaking out and having your name dragged through the mud like this, I hear you. It is scary. Stay strong and speak truth.

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Felicia Sonmez

Felicia Sonmez Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @feliciasonmez

Apr 4, 2023
Emily Yoffe has a history of unethical professional behavior, and her actions have caused significant harm. I am sad angry to see that has done so once again. You should not have had to go through this, @SleepyOktobur. 1/
A lengthy correction request I wrote in 2019 after Yoffe and Reason Magazine published an error-ridden piece about my sexual assault: 2/
More on my experience with Yoffe and the red flags raised by her behavior — including an email in which she said she “loved” the details of a woman’s alleged assault. Ms. Yoffe also told her editor that the incident proved women get a “thrill” out of accusing their attackers. 3/
Read 4 tweets
Nov 28, 2022
This piece is a sparkling example of how *not* to write about sexual misconduct allegations.

It leaves out a host of key facts and context, including the full scope of the public allegations and Díaz’s own contradictory statements on the matter. 1/x
One person not mentioned by @semaforben in his piece is Alisa Rivera, who wrote that, after an interaction in which Díaz used a racial slur against her,

“Junot grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of my seat and into his lap, wrapping his arms around my waist.” 2/x
In her 2018 piece, Rivera said that she, like Díaz, was raped as a child.

She noted that “when you’ve suffered a great harm, you have a moral choice to make” — and that Díaz “made the wrong choice.” 3/x therumpus.net/2018/05/15/eno…
Read 17 tweets
Jun 9, 2022
I stand by what I wrote in that email. In 2018, I was punished after I told my editors I needed to take a walk around the block after reading a difficult story.

Other colleagues have been punished for their trauma far more recently, but their stories aren’t mine to tell. 1/
I’m not “discouraging reporters at the Post from seeking help they need.”

Far from it.

The Washington Post’s own actions are doing that. 2/
I care deeply about my colleagues, and I want this institution to provide support for all employees.

Right now, the Post is a place where many of us fear our trauma will be used against us, based on the company’s past actions. 3/
Read 16 tweets
Jun 7, 2022
Is this the culture that the Post says it wants to foster?

In her email to the newsroom on Sunday, here is what @SallyBuzbee wrote:
As the Post’s own internal report on social media use shows, employees have raised various issues—not related to Dave Weigel—with leadership and Human Resources, and they have not been addressed “promptly and firmly.” 20/x
Another example from @PostGuild’s recent, must-read report on working conditions at the Post: 21/x
Read 12 tweets
Jun 7, 2022
In early 2020, @stevenjay and @loriamontgomery, then the Post’s National and deputy National editors, commissioned an internal report on social media use in response to newsroom-wide outrage over my suspension.

Two years later, nothing has changed. 1/x int.nyt.com/data/documenth…
The report, spearheaded by now-National editor @mateagold, was based on interviews with more than 50 of my talented colleagues on The Washington Post’s National desk. It was the result of weeks of hard work by 9 of my colleagues. I was among those interviewed for the report. 2/x
Among its findings: “Reporters use social media as an outlet when they feel their voice isn’t heard in the newsroom.” 3/x
Read 17 tweets
Jun 7, 2022
Simply objecting to a retweet of a sexist joke — and a colleague’s false accusation of “bullying” — leads to … this.
And this.
And this.
Read 16 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(