A former Panthers employee who says she was harassed by owner Jerry Richardson published her story in her own words via Sports Illustrated on Thursday.
A former Panthers employee writes powerful letters on Jerry Richardson’s workplace misconduct
Richardson, Bob McNair, Ron Rivera, and others are addressed in letters published in Sports Illustrated.
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
The victim addresses six different people or groups of people in various letters. It details abuse she went through, and tackles people who enabled the abuse, and others who backed up Richardson. Richardson announced he would be selling the team shortly after the harassment claims surfaced.
She writes to Richardson, and reveals disgusting things he did.
At the center of the entire ordeal, is what Richardson did to her and many others. She says that enablers told her to go to lunch with him, no matter the circumstances, answer his phone calls, and do whatever he asked. That included going to his home, carrying his things, meeting him in his personal office or suite, and giving him handwritten thank you notes to reiterate his “greatness.”
An excerpt of his abuse, detailed by the victim:
I didn’t know what to do when you started leaving me suggestive handwritten notes, insisting that I reply and then destroy the note. I didn’t know what to do when you summoned me to your personal office, instructed me to sit in the chair across from you, pulled my chair towards you so you could sandwich my legs, which you proceeded to rub, between yours. I didn’t know what to do when you called me to your stadium suite in the middle of the week so you could take off my shoes, place my legs in your lap and rub their entire length, from toes to crotch. I didn’t know what to do when you asked me to turn around so you could see how my jeans looked. I didn’t know what to do when you brushed my breasts to put my seat belt around me in the front seat of your car. I didn’t know what to do when you put your hands on my mouth, for me to kiss them. I didn’t know what to do when you asked me uncomfortable, sexually charged questions.
I didn’t know what to do. So, I did what you told me to do.
Sports Illustrated also published photos of some of the notes that Richardson would write her.
Some of them read as such:
A. ”The week before we play New England please do the following:
① manicure
② pedicure
③ facial
④ hair stuff
⑤ wear lip gloss
I want all of us to be at our best that week-end”
B. ”④ If I could...I’d pamper you more. Rub your feet. Shave your legs. Put lotion on your body - etc, etc”
C. ”④ you did not answer my questions – – Do you think of me as:
① your grandfather
② your second father
③ your second husband
④ your friend
⑤ your boyfriend
⑥ or something else –
I regret I have never been able to give you pleasure – ”]
She goes on to mention that he told her he was taking care of her, how much she was hurt by him, has low self-esteem because of him, and how she can’t trust anyone, or have a relationship because of him.
“I can only hope you donate your new billions to a credible non-profit organization that might make something good out of something so wrong,” she concludes.
She says Bob McNair has “no clue or compassion in regard to sexual harassment and racism.”
McNair, owner of the Houston Texans, made comments on March 25 saying he should have defended Richardson, calling him “an outstanding person” and that “sometimes things get misunderstood.”
The victim wrote, “Your comments on March 25, which affirmed you still have no clue or compassion in regard to sexual harassment and racism, also let me know that Jerry Richardson broke the non-disclosure agreement he had signed with me.” Then she added, “Because Jerry Richardson spoke on the subject, I can write these letters and finally speak my truth.”
The victim goes on to explain how McNair’s comments are incredibly short-sighted, and offensive.
She calls the NFL investigation “a farce.”
The victim believed something would be done once they “took over the Carolina Panthers’ bogus ‘investigation’” into the allegations against Richardson of workplace misconduct. However, she says that wasn’t the case at all.
She wrote:
Finally, I thought, with an outside party conducting a real investigation, my truth will come out. Little did I understand, you don’t really care to know my truth. Makes sense. My truth is bad for your business.
My attorney spoke with Mary Jo White to let her know that I was willing to cooperate with the investigation that you had given to her. Ms. White said she would like to hear my truth, but neither she nor you could protect me from the penalties of breaching my NDA.
What?
Let me get this straight. You say you are doing a thorough investigation of “workplace misconduct” of Jerry Richardson. Through my attorney, I let you know that I am indeed a victim of such “misconduct” and have information for you — but you cannot protect me. Got it. You have zero power, and that makes your investigation a farce.
She powerfully ends with, “Throughout the many years I was sexually harassed by Jerry Richardson, I always believed that there was no one above him, no one whom I could tell, without repercussions, what was happening to me. You proved me right. You have now become another enabler.”
She addresses enablers, ones she knows, and “even more I don’t.”
The victim names out the Carolina Panthers’ general counsel, and the former and current Panthers directors and upper management who knew and witnessed it happening.
“Did you ever think to follow the policy, and maybe prevent another female from being harassed?” she questioned.
“Your silence contributed to this horrible behavior by not only allowing it to survive, but to thrive. I know some of you have daughters. Is this type of work environment what you want for them?”
Ron Rivera ending a huddle with “Mr. Richardson, on three” was wrong.
After the Panthers’ Christmas Eve game against the Falcons, Rivera broke a postgame huddle with “Mr. Richardson, on three.”
She explained that hearing and seeing that brought back the painful memories.
“In the blink of an eye, you — along with the likes of Jerry Jones (“Jerry [Richardson] is one of the really, really, really outstanding men of football that I’ve ever met, and I really admire him”) and Bob McNair (“I know Jerry [Richardson]. He’s an outstanding person’’) — became yet another enabler. You are part of the reason this behavior is condoned and continues.”
She also mentions while Richardson may have done things to help others, what he did to her and other victims doesn’t change her truth, or the truths of others.
She hopes the future owner of the Panthers can change the culture
The victim maintains she still wants to be a fan of the Panthers, and hopes she can be once a new owner is in place.
“I hope you are female and/or African American,” she writes. “But regardless, please respect the power that comes with your new position. Don’t use it to intimidate or oppress people. Actually, be proactive and use it to mandate equality.”
She also would like to see the statue of Richardson come down outside the stadium. It serves as a brutal reminder of the abuse she endured.
Most importantly, she would like to see the new owner take their newly inherited platform for greater change:
Please think beyond Carolina and be a leader in pushing for real, systematic change in the NFL. Demand strict policies that actually mean something and are not just for show. Maybe initiate a third-party, league-wide human resources department. Implement training for preventing, identifying and reporting sexual harassment. Push for legislative changes to allow OSHA to increase its authority concerning workplace sexual harassment. Work to eliminate NDAs.
Be the change. I pray you are up for the challenge. Good luck!
Sincerely,
A Jerry Richardson Victim Still Too Afraid
The Panthers released a statement after the letters were published:
The team is expected to have a new owner sometime in May.
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