Meta sued by former director over sexual harassment, gender discrimination
What's the story
Kelly Stonelake, a former director at Meta and one of its earliest employees, has sued the company in Washington. The lawsuit accuses the tech giant of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation during her 15-year tenure. Stonelake alleges that she faced persistent gender-based discrimination and harassment from shortly after her hiring in 2009 until her termination in January 2024.
Allegations
Stonelake alleges Meta's inaction and retaliation
The lawsuit accuses Meta of ignoring Stonelake's complaints of sexual harassment and assault. It also claims the company retaliated against her for flagging a video game product as racist and potentially harmful to minors. Further, Stonelake alleges she was repeatedly passed over for promotions in favor of male colleagues. By the time of her dismissal, she was on extended medical leave due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the alleged discriminatory conditions at Meta.
Health impact
Mental health impacted by alleged discrimination
Stonelake claims her mental health was deeply impacted because of the alleged discriminatory environment at the company. The lawsuit claims she continues to receive medical treatment due to these conditions. Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton declined to comment on the pending litigation when approached for a response. The lawsuit comes amid major changes at Meta and its founder Mark Zuckerberg's apparent right-leaning political shift.
Broader issues
Stonelake's lawsuit highlights broader issues at Meta
Speaking to TechCrunch, Stonelake said her lawsuit highlights a broader pattern of abuse at the firm. She opted for legal action when she realized this was the best way to hold Meta accountable. "Meta has the opportunity to do harm on a scale that only tech companies can," she warned.