The attorneys at Ares Law Group, P.C. who regularly handle sexual harassment cases, are following new allegations against multiple NFL Network analysts. Erin McParland and Jami Cantor, who both worked as make-up artists for the NFL Network, have raised allegations of sexual harassment including sexually suggestive comments, inappropriate touching and sexual advances by NFL Network personalities including Eric Davis, Michael Irvin, and top executive Eric Weinberger. Ms. McParland describes how, shortly after her hire, she was told that she needed to be careful because she was new, pretty and would likely be targeted. Ms. McParland was stunned by the conduct she claims she was subjected to by the male personalities at the network. Ms. McParland explained what gave her the courage to speak up was talking to other female make-up artists and learning they were subjected to the same or similar conduct by the same individuals. After hearing these similar accounts, Ms. McParland felt empowered and took her complaints to the NFL Network’s Human Resources Department.
While both Ms. McParland and Ms. Cantor have separate individual cases, their allegations will likely be used to corroborate each other’s account. One piece of evidence which will likely be central to Ms. McParland’s complaint are alleged Instagram direct messages from Davis in which she claims he commented on her flexibility and made suggestive remarks about how good they would be sexually. Additionally, both Ms. McParland and Ms. Cantor’s attorneys will likely seek evidence related to complaints or concerns raised by other females in the workplace about similar conduct by the alleged sexual harassers. If they find evidence the NFL Network was aware of inappropriate conduct by the accused harassers and failed to take appropriate action to stop it, it will likely strengthen their claims.
The allegations of sexual harassment by female make-up artists at the NFL Network against various NFL Network analysts reiterates what many experts in the field already know to be true, sexual harassment is often times not isolated incidents. Rather, it consists of repeated actions indicative of a pattern of behavior. Many women who are subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace never report the conduct for a variety of reasons including: fear of retaliation, financial need for a job, fear of being ostracized and fear of not being believed. With the #metoo movement, many women are now feeling empowered to shine a light on inappropriate conduct in the workplace. In doing this, what many are finding is they are not alone not only in the larger sense of the #metoo movement but often times, in terms of their own work environment.
Accordingly, if you continue to look where you see smoke, you may eventually find a fire. In today’s day and age fire is often times found through the use of evidence provided through electronic communications and social media. It remains unclear what will play out with respect to Ms. McParland and Ms. Cantor’s claims but what is clear, is that individuals who feel they have been subjected to sexual harassment, or other types of harassment, in the workplace, are often times not alone and should consult with a sexual harassment attorney to ensure they understand their rights.