Lurid Lawsuit’s Quiet End Leaves Silicon Valley Start-Up Barely Dented
“Honestly, I wouldn’t hold my breath that there would be any left unless I moved to Wonder Woman’s home island.”
About 11 months after Ms. Scott joined Upload, Ms. Scott said in her suit, she complained to a supervisor about the office atmosphere, about being shunned by Mr. Freeman
and Mr. Mason and about being paid less for equal work and forced to perform menial and demeaning tasks.
In a statement after the suit was filed, Upload said
that “our employees are our greatest asset” and that “these allegations are entirely without merit.” The company said Upload’s chief executive, Taylor Freeman, and president, Will Mason, could not discuss the lawsuit and its specifics.
On Friday, as this article neared publication, the men issued another statement that said, “We let you down and we are sorry.”
At a time when Silicon Valley is filled with tales of harassment
and discrimination against women — just this week, the chief executive of the lending start-up Social Finance resigned amid accusations of sexual misbehavior — the purported behavior at Upload stands out.
Ms. Scott said in her suit that the Upload office had a room with a bed “to encourage
sexual intercourse at the workplace.” It was referred to as the kink room.
Ms. Scott said in the suit that while she was at a conference in San Jose, Calif., Mr. Freeman
kicked her out of her room in Upload’s rented house so he could use it for sex.
