Crypto charity CEO steps down after ‘misogynistic’ rant on LinkedIn
The CEO of a crypto charity has stepped down following what his own company described as “misogynistic” comments aimed at women in the Australian start-up and venture capital space.
GiveTree founder and CEO Sam Joel made the comments in response to an article about championing women in start-ups featuring Human VC founder Elaine Stead, that was shared on LinkedIn.
Among his now-deleted comments, seen by several media outlets, Joel reportedly wrote on LinkedIn and in emails to several women:
“Get off your period. Get good. Earn your salary with skill not pr lol. Pathetic.”
“bang you then abortion.”
“are you single? Should we make a better baby? […] Assuming I wanna bang you, because let’s be honest – you look. Fat.”
He also wrote that diversity “might be the dumbest s—t of the entire century” and claimed that women “have somehow secured majority employment in most verticals now. And still. Complaining. Classic women.”
Among the women targeted by his abusive comments were Stead, the founder and managing director of fintech public relations firm Third Hemisphere, Hannah Moreno, and founder and CEO of super fintech comparator Super Fierce, Trenna Probert.
An uproar ensued on LinkedIn, with his targets and other community members reporting his comments to the social media platform.
LinkedIn’s decision that the comments did not contravene its professional community policies made many question whether the social media giant was implicit in perpetuating the abuse.
“If LinkedIn doesn’t see that as sexual harassment, and their remedy is simple (delete the comments and remove the commentator) is it any wonder that our physical workplaces don’t respond adequately?” Stead wrote in a subsequent article for Medium.
GiveTree subsequently posted an apology on LinkedIn and Joel revealed that he would be stepping down as CEO.
In part, the GiveTree statement read: “Over the weekend, our founder Sam Joel made some very inappropriate and hurtful comments toward women on LinkedIn.
“Unfortunately these recent comments form part of a larger and ongoing pattern of behavior for Sam, that urgently needs to change.
“Sam would therefore like to wholeheartedly apologize for the damage and harm he has caused these, and all, women through his words and actions.
“He understands that any act of sexism against one woman makes the world a less safe place for all women.
The company said Joel would also “attend therapy to address his sexist and, at times, misogynistic behavior towards women.”
“He will also use therapy to address underlying issues stemming from PTSD due to a period of homelessness and loss of family members.”
In a personal apology, also posted to LinkedIn, Joel wrote: “I started GiveTree five years ago when I was homeless from an internet cafe.
“My goal was to help people not hurt them.
“After speaking with Hannah Moreno and Elaine Stead it is clear to me now that my words and actions have hurt people deeply and no longer align with GiveTree’s core values, or the reason I started GiveTree in the first place.
“One of the concrete steps I am taking to realise responsibility for my words and actions is to step down as CEO.
“Women and Men deserve to be treated with respect and that is a non-negotiable.
“I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to everyone I have hurt & express my deep gratitude to Hannah for her incredible communication & guidance which has helped me to see what I need to do to change my behavior permanently, starting from today.
“I hope my actions in the months and years to come demonstrate my commitment to this outcome.”
Reports have surfaced from other women he has previously targeted on social media and The Australian Financial Review reported that Joel was also asked to leave Fishburners, a Sydney-based early start-up incubator, late last year after he was accused of persistently harassing members and staff.
“Sam was originally welcomed because we were inspired by his story,” said Alan Jones, who was chief executive of Fishburners at the time.
But Jones added that “we had to ask him to leave” because of bullying and harassment claims.
GiveTree uses crypto technology to help video gamers donate money.
