Sam Joel, founder and CEO of GiveTree, has resigned from his role and issued an apology over sexist comments he made on social media over the weekend.
The startup founder made several posts and comments on LinkedIn directed at high-profile women in Australia’s tech industry, which have since been removed.
According to reports from The Australian Financial Review, Joel made an offensive post directed at public relations manager Hannah Moreno.
“Get off your period. Get good. Earn your salary with skill not pr lol. Pathetic,” Joel’s post read.
Another comment on LinkedIn directed at a woman said: “Are you single? Should we make a better baby? […] Assuming I wanna bang you, because let’s be honest – you look. Fat.”
Joel also reportedly wrote diversity in the workplace “might be the dumbest shit of the entire century”, claiming women “have somehow secured majority employment in most verticals now. And still. Complaining. Classic women.”
GiveTree, a crypto-based charity, released a statement on Tuesday, saying Joel’s “very inappropriate and hurtful” words were part of a “larger and ongoing pattern” of sexist and misogynistic behaviour the founder has displayed in recent times.
“Sam would therefore like to wholeheartedly apologise for the damage and harm he has caused these, and all, women through his words and actions,” the statement read.
“He understands that any act of sexism against one woman makes the world a less safe place for all women.”
Since Joel’s LinkedIn account was removed following the incident, GiveTree’s statement included direct quotes from him, forming his apology.
“I sincerely and deeply apologise to the women and men I’ve hurt with my inappropriate words and actions,” he said.
“I understand the hurt and damage caused by my actions and words, and I intend to take concrete steps to do better and adjust my character.”
Joel said he will take action in addressing his behaviours, including attending therapy. He has also offered those he has hurt through his comments to reach out to him via email so he can personally apologise.
Joel founded GiveTree five years ago at an internet cafe, after experiencing homelessness. He said he will also address issues of PTSD he experienced as a result of his homelessness and loss of family members when he attends therapy.
‘A symptom of misogyny.’
One of Joel’s most recent victims is Hannah Moreno, the founder and managing director of the tech company Third Hemisphere.
Moreno spoke with Women’s Agenda on Wednesday morning describing the abuse that not only occurred on LinkedIn in what Joel alledgely claimed were just “jokes”, but continued in a private email exchange between the pair.
“Sexual harassment is not gender jokes. Sexual harassment is a crime… (Joel) perpetrated this crime publicly,” she said.
In the email exchange, Joel allegedly initially offered Moreno a job to “apologise” for his vitriolic comments online. He also pointed to his mental health conditions as a reason for the way he spoke on LinkedIn and via emails.
“Sexual harassment is not a symptom of PTSD. It’s a symptom of misogyny,” Moreno said.
“And offering me a job is not an acknowledgement that you’ve done anything wrong. It’s not an apology.”
After realising the gravity of the “PR crisis” Joel was facing, Moreno said Joel backed down. Moreno then also offered him advice on how to manage the situation from a public relations perspective, her area of expertise as a PR manager.
But Moreno didn’t offer this help to just help Joel make amends alone – rather, she said it was a proactive, feminist response to the overarching problem of men’s mistreatment of women.
“He didn’t just hurt me,” Moreno said.
“He hurt three or four other women directly in this instance. He has hurt many other women over the course of many years. And he hurt womenkind.
“Because whenever there’s a sexist, misogynistic comment made against one women that’s done publicly, and other women listen to it, it hurts.”
While it surprised Moreno that Joel exposed his sexism on the professional networking platform that is LinkedIn, she said the vitriol she received was “not vaguely unusual”, which is why she had the capacity to respond the way she did.
“I am someone who was not that affected by Sam… but there are lots of women out there who he has really damaged,” she said.
“I’m one of his victims, but it’s not up to me to tell the other victims to forgive him.
“Absolutely no victims have to forgive him. Now or ever.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Shutterstock/Worawee Meepian