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WhiskeyGrinder

(22,356 posts)
Tue Jan 23, 2018, 11:17 PM Jan 2018

Investigation: For some who lived in it, Keillor's world wasn't funny

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/01/23/keillor-workplace

When Minnesota Public Radio abruptly severed ties with Garrison Keillor in November, the sole explanation offered by the company was "inappropriate behavior" with a female colleague.

For his part, the creator and longtime host of A Prairie Home Companion described his offense as nothing more than having placed his hand on a woman's back to console her.

An investigation by MPR News, however, has learned of a years-long pattern of behavior that left several women who worked for Keillor feeling mistreated, sexualized or belittled. None of those incidents figure in the "inappropriate behavior" cited by MPR when it severed business ties.

Nor do they have anything to do with Keillor's story about putting a hand on a woman's back:
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Investigation: For some who lived in it, Keillor's world wasn't funny (Original Post) WhiskeyGrinder Jan 2018 OP
Sadly far too many of us men didn't learn how to behave properly mythology Jan 2018 #1
His response to the the initial accusation speaks volumes: Orrex Jan 2018 #2
I have the same question about how you accidentally do that mythology Jan 2018 #6
A lot of the article shows he was respected and liked by many women he worked with. Tipperary Jan 2018 #3
Just because he didn't sexually harass every woman mythology Jan 2018 #7
Morning kick. WhiskeyGrinder Jan 2018 #4
what a trumped up bunch of shit bigtree Jan 2018 #5
 

mythology

(9,527 posts)
1. Sadly far too many of us men didn't learn how to behave properly
Wed Jan 24, 2018, 08:15 AM
Jan 2018

People in general are really good at justifying our own behavior as somehow different/better than others. I'm sure Keillor doesn't think of himself as a predator.

Orrex

(63,215 posts)
2. His response to the the initial accusation speaks volumes:
Wed Jan 24, 2018, 09:00 AM
Jan 2018
"I sent her an email of apology later, and she replied that she had forgiven me and not to think about it. We were friends. We continued to be friendly right up until her lawyer called."
In other words, he didn't fuck up their friendship by "accidentally" placing (and leaving) his hand on her bare back without permission; she fucked up their friendship by bringing her lawyer into it.

That's the classic I'm-the-victim ploy common to abusers, and I'm not surprised to learn that it's just one of many alleged improprieties.


Also, in my entire life, I have never once placed my hand on another person's bare back without permission, accidentally or otherwise. Is this a that actually happens? Because it made him sound unambiguously gross and smarmy.
 

mythology

(9,527 posts)
6. I have the same question about how you accidentally do that
Wed Jan 24, 2018, 11:36 AM
Jan 2018

I have legitimately accidentally touched a pregnant woman's stomach as we were spotting a special needs kid in a gymnastics class, but that's a pretty specific circumstance. When I'm regularly spotting adults I've never put my hands anywhere inappropriate.

 

Tipperary

(6,930 posts)
3. A lot of the article shows he was respected and liked by many women he worked with.
Wed Jan 24, 2018, 10:12 AM
Jan 2018

I think I will reserve judgement until the rest of the story comes out. That bit about the limerick was pretty creepy though.

 

mythology

(9,527 posts)
7. Just because he didn't sexually harass every woman
Wed Jan 24, 2018, 11:44 AM
Jan 2018

Doesn't make it less likely that he harassed the women who have come forward. None of the guys who have had multiple accusers have ended up not having done it. It is astronomically unlikely he isn't guilty.

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