May we present to you: a seemingly authentic sexual harassment apology.
In an episode of his Harmontown podcast, Dan Harmon came out with a very candid admission of sexually harassing a former writer on his sitcom Community.
The in-depth apology came weeks after Megan Ganz called the producer out on Twitter for half-assedly confessing to abusive behavior. During the intense exchange, Harmon expressed regret for treating Ganz like “garbage” — a sentiment she appreciated, but felt didn’t make up for years of being mistreated.
Now, it sounds like Harmon is really trying to set things right. Taking the advice of other female colleagues, the Rick and Morty creator completely owned up to and apologized for his “creepy behavior” towards Ganz.
Related: Mira Sorvino Vows To NEVER Work With Woody Allen Again!
Harmon opened his confession around the 18:40 mark, noting he was “attracted to a writer I had power over” and “knew enough to know that these feelings were bad news.” Unsure of how to deal with these feelings, Harmon said he “did the cowardly, easiest, laziest thing you can do” and “didn’t deal with them” — but repressing his attraction for Ganz only heightened his “flirty” intensity towards her.
It only got worse when Harmon tried to become a mentor for Ganz. Harmon said he lied to himself and his girlfriend about his feelings for his mentee — to rebuff complaints about his behavior, he claimed those complaining were being “sexist or jealous.”
Even after Ganz repeatedly told Harmon that his behavior was making her uncomfortable, both on a personal and professional level, the producer refused to listen. He broke up with his girlfriend and even told Ganz, “I love you.” She rejected him.
That’s when Harmon turned his humiliation into even darker behavior, actions he says vincidcates Ganz’s use of the word “trauma.” He explained:
“I drank. I took pills. I crushed on her and resented her for not reciprocating it and the entire time I was the one writing her paychecks and in control of whether she stayed or went and whether she felt good about herself or not, and said horrible things. Just treated her cruelly, pointedly, things I would never, ever would have done if she had been male and if I had never had those feelings for her.”
This downward spiral, he said, continued throughout Community‘s run, until he lost control of the show and was ultimately fired.
Related: 5 Women Accuse James Franco Of Being A Nasty Pig
Harmon concluded his message by urging men to think about the implications of being attracted to colleagues and coworkers — particularly when there is a power dynamic — and not let their attractions grow off in the back of their minds. Oh, also, have some fucking respect for women:
“I certainly wouldn’t have been able to do it if I had any respect for women. On a fundamental level, I was thinking about them as different creatures. I was thinking about the ones that I liked as having some special role in my life and I did it all by not thinking about it.”
This time around, Ganz felt an unexpected sense of “relief” from Harmon’s apology, one that she said was “not rationalizing or justifying or making excuses” for his behavior. She ultimately forgave her former boss and urged others on Twitter to listen to his confession.
Looks like the closest thing to resolution we’ve seen in a while. Click HERE to lisen to Harmon’s apology and read Ganz’s response tweets (below):
I’m not being flippant. I didn’t bring up this mess just to sweep it back under the rug. But I find myself in the odd position of having requested an apology publicly, and then having received one—a good one—also publicly. I waited 6 years for it, but you can find it 18:38 in.
— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 11, 2018
Yes, I only listened because I expected an apology. But what I didn’t expect was the relief I├óΓé¼Γäód feel just hearing him say these things actually happened. I didn├óΓé¼Γäót dream it. I├óΓé¼Γäóm not crazy. Ironic that the only person who could give me that comfort is the one person I├óΓé¼Γäód never ask.
— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 11, 2018
This was never about vengeance; it’s about vindication. That’s why it didn├óΓé¼Γäót feel right to just accept his apology in private (although I did that, too). Because if any part of this process should be done in the light, it├óΓé¼Γäós the forgiveness part. And so, @danharmon, I forgive you.
— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 11, 2018
Have we found a way to move forward, Perezious readers?
[Image via WENN/Twitter.]
-
Categories
