Penguin Canada sex scandal

June 20, 2010 5:42 PM

The president of Penguin Canada has been fired and is facing a sexual harrassment suit. Oh, and a second woman has alleged harrassment as well. There's some criticism of Penguin also for trying to cover up the facts at first. And there's a portrait of the "artist" as a young man. Sounds like it would make a good book ...
posted by anothermug (12 comments total)

Much less interesting that what I first imagined when I saw "penguin" and "sex scandal".
posted by hwestiii at 6:02 PM on June 20, 2010 [11 favorites]

Seems like your run of the mill corporate sexual harassment case.
posted by delmoi at 6:20 PM on June 20, 2010

Has bail been set appropriately? He's obviously not a flight risk.
posted by hal9k at 6:26 PM on June 20, 2010 [30 favorites]

Seems like your run of the mill corporate sexual harassment case.

However, not only is this devastating for the woman (or women) he harassed, the situation is devastating for publishing in Canada, as Penguin has effectively removed autonomy from its Canadian subsidiary
posted by KokuRyu at 6:35 PM on June 20, 2010 [1 favorite]

The other side of the story, FWIW.
posted by vidur at 9:19 PM on June 20, 2010

Must be the day for it.

posted by joz at 10:17 PM on June 20, 2010

David Davidar? Otis Mathis? Is there a pattern? Do strangely named men believe they have the right to harass women? I wonder.

- Richard Pilchard
posted by surrendering monkey at 11:15 PM on June 20, 2010

And there's a portrait of the "artist" as a young man

The "artist" wrote two "books."
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 11:45 PM on June 20, 2010

The comments on the "other side of the story" article are hilarious.
posted by atchafalaya at 12:47 AM on June 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

I agree. Now I'm craving cream-filled biscuits.
posted by peacheater at 3:05 AM on June 21, 2010

From the "other side of the story" article:

While away, Ms. Rundle sent an e-mail to Mr. Davidar expressing her concern and extending “her best thoughts”

Sending a polite and supportive e-mail to a co-worker dealing with an illness in the family? Why would someone do that unless they were... having an illicit affair?!
posted by ellehumour at 5:36 AM on June 22, 2010

There was an interesting article in the paper the other day - apparently Davidar completely revolutionized the publishing industry in India while he was the head (I think? details are fuzzy and I can't find it at the moment) of Penguin India - this is a HUGE scandal over there right now.
posted by antifuse at 8:36 AM on June 22, 2010