Terry Crews And Male-On-Male Sexual Harassment
Associate Evan Gibbs’ recent byline in Above the Law explores the question: Are males who allege sexual assault or harassment treated differently than females who make similar allegations? Gibbs highlights the case of former NFL linebacker and actor Terry Crews, who recently accused Hollywood talent agent Adam Venit of groping him at a party in 2016. On Dec. 4, Crews filed a lawsuit against Venit and his employer, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, claiming sexual assault, battery, breach of fiduciary duty, among other claims. Gibbs writes, “In my experience… male-on-male harassment claims are generally more difficult to win than male-on-female harassment claims.” Gibbs cites the high legal burden and the courts’ fear of creating a federal “civility code” for the workplace. He concludes, writing, “For me, the ultimate questions are: Will Crews’s story embolden other men to come forward with similar stories? And, will Crews’s story help forge change in an industry fraught with sexual misconduct allegations?”