Press

Women’s Group UltraViolet Cheers Andy Lack’s Exit as NBC News Chairman

UltraViolet, a national women’s group, cheered the exit of longtime NBC News Chairman Andy Lack on Monday as a “positive development” that “suggests NBC is beginning to take issues regarding its workplace culture seriously.”

“After a career of enabling sexual abusers, preying on women in the workplace and silencing stories from survivors, Andy Lack’s name is synonymous with NBCUniversal’s toxic workplace culture. Lack should have been forced to step down after Ronan Farrow’s reporting exposed his role covering up sexual abuse at the network,” UltraViolet co-founder Shaunna Thomas said in a statement, citing previous accusations about Lack’s behavior as chairman of NBC News and MSNBC since 2015. (Lack has denied retaliating against the two women who spoke with Farrow about his behavior.)

“While no single decision or individual can eliminate the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and harassment in the workplace, these are positive developments,” she continued. “Still, NBC has a long way to go before it takes the steps necessary to address their toxic workplace culture, which has been cultivated by men like Andy Lack for decades.”

Senate’s $2 trillion stimulus fails women on frontlines of coronavirus pandemic

“Someone You Love Had an Abortion”: New Digital Ad Campaign Targets Moderate Swing Voters

Late last week, in partnership with MomsRising and We Testify, UltraViolet—a leading women’s advocacy group—launched a major six-figure new digital persuasion and storytelling campaign targeting progressive younger voters and moderate swing voters on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube in Virginia, Georgia, Missouri and Ohio.

The ads have a simple message for these voters: “Someone they love had an abortion.”

View the 30-second spot here:

Reports: Harvey Weinstein close to $25M settlement with some accusers but won’t have to pay

“We support survivors, and that includes supporting survivors to make their own decisions to make deals with their abusers,” added Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of the anti-rape group UltraViolet, in a statement emailed to USA TODAY. “But it’s hardly lost on us that these brave women made the only choice that was available to them under our flawed and disempowering judicial system. Survivors of sexual abuse deserve better.”

This is not the potential end to all civil lawsuits against Weinstein: It doesn’t include one famous accuser of Weinstein, Ashley Judd, who’s filed a separate sexual harassment and retaliation suit against him in California. She has said she wants a trial in her case.

4 Democratic Candidates Press For Inquiry Into NBC’s ‘Toxic Culture’ Ahead Of Debate

In the letter, which was coordinated by the women’s advocacy group UltraViolet, the senators say they’re concerned about the message it sends to sexual assault survivors if the Democratic debate happens without the network’s parent at least agreeing to conduct an investigation into allegations of harassment, assault and a cover-up at NBC News.

NBC News Sexual Misconduct Controversy Draws Small Protest Outside 30 Rock

A handful of protestors gathered outside NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Center on Wednesday to demand the ouster of top NBC News executives for the network’s handling of internal sexual misconduct allegations, among other issues.

The feminist advocacy org UltraViolet organized a demonstration outside of NBC News headquarters to deliver a petition with nearly 20,000 signatures calling for the firing of NBC News president Noah Oppenheim and MSNBC president Phil Griffin. Oppenheim recently signed a new contract with NBC News and is expected to succeed Andy Lack as chairman of the division after the 2020 presidential election.

NBC News has been at the center of controversy for two weeks amid the publication of Ronan Farrow’s book “Catch and Kill,” which details what he describes as NBC’s effort to quash his reporting on sexual assault allegations against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Farrow criticizes NBC News for its handling of internal sexual misconduct and harassment claims, most notably those involving former “Today” anchor Matt Lauer, who was fired in November 2017.

What “She Said” To Me

With the release of the book She Said today by investigative journalists Jodi Kantor and Meghan Twohey we’re all getting a deeper look at what led to and what resulted from the story that rocked Hollywood, and then the country about Harvey Weinstein, his survivors and his enablers. The book is amazing and I hope everyone goes out and reads it.

As the person named in the book for first suggesting to the New York Times that they look at Harvey Weinstein’s history of abuse, it’s important to explain why I did it. I did not do so lightly and there was a history behind my actions and the implications it has had for our society. This is that story.

Soccer fans, activists rally at U.S. Soccer headquarters for equal pay

“It’s not complicated and it’s not right,” said Susan Hildebrand, national field director at Ultraviolet. “We’re here to support the team’s demand for equal pay. In addition to bringing home those four World Cup championships, the women’s team also brings in significant revenue.”

‘Acosta Enables Sex Trafficking’ projected onto the Labor Department building

Activists projected condemnations of Labor Secretary Alexander Acostaon the Department of Labor building Wednesday to protest his role in a controversial non-prosecution agreement with financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was arrested again over the weekend.

Progressive advocacy groups, including Credo Action, MoveOn, UltraViolet and the American Federation of Teachers, projected the words “Acosta Enabled Sex Trafficking” and “Acosta Must Go” on the building.

Women Owned The Democratic Debates

“By showing up as the leaders they are — powerful, smart and deeply connected to the issues impacting all Americans — [Warren and Harris] showed us what a president could be and it was thrilling,” said Shaunna Thomas, the co-founder of the women’s advocacy group Ultraviolet, calling Harris and Warren the winners of the debates.

BREAKING: Andy Lack Steps Down as NBC News Chairman, Noah Oppenheim Sidelined in Reshuffle

UltraViolet on Biden’s Statement Denying Tara Reade’s Sexual Abuse Allegations

UltraViolet: Congress Needs To Wake Up. End Recess. Get Back To Work. And Start Helping Those Who Need It Most.

UltraViolet: Senate Stimulus Package is Insufficient for Women Who Are Bearing the Brunt of the Coronavirus Pandemic

BREAKING: Harvey Weinstein is Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Criminal Sexual Assault, Rape; Women’s Group Reacts

UltraViolet on Reports that Sen. Elizabeth Warren is Dropping Out of the Race for the 2020 Democratic Presidential Nomination 

BREAKING: Harvey Weinstein is Found Guilty of Criminal Sexual Act, Rape; Women’s Group Reacts

Women’s Group: Washington Post Wrong to Suspend Reporter For Reporting Facts; Post Should Immediately Reinstate Felicia Sonmez and Apologize to Readers

UltraViolet Unequivocally Supports Sil Lai Abrams, Drew Dixon, and Alexia Norton Jones

BREAKING: UltraViolet Reacts to Reports that Weinstein and His Accusers Have Reached a Tentative $25m Deal