Top Stories Archives - Proof with Jill Stanley

3 Reasons Not to Totally Hate Bill Cosby

Bill Cosby, Top Stories, Trending, Videos, Watch

Do we wish Bill Cosby really was Dr. Huxtable, the wise, fatherly figure in the multicolored sweaters? Or the comedian with the clean yet funny jokes? Yes. But those days are long gone and for a while now the world has known that Cosby wasn’t who he wanted us to believe he was. Despite the fact that Bill Cosby has not yet been convicted of a criminal act or yet been held civilly liable for any of his actions, the stories of more than 50 women could not be discounted; and, luckily they have not. As a direct result of Cosby’s actions, the following three states have changed their laws regarding the statute of limitations on sexual assault.

Colorado:

In the ‘80s, Beth Ferrier and Heidi Thomas, Colorado residents who are now in their 50s say Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted them. They did not immediately come forward with their claims because of fear—fear of damage to their careers and fear of facing the truth of what happened to them. When they did come forward they learned that their cases could not be prosecuted because they were time barred by Colorado’s ten-year statute of limitations on sexual assaults. These women, stronger now, did not sit idly by and “take the second arrow.” Along with the bipartisan support of Colorado state representatives they fought to have the law changed. And they won. In June 2016, Colorado Governor Hickenlooper signed into law House Bill 1260 which extended the statute of limitations on sexual assaults from 10 to 20 years. HB 1260 isn’t retroactive which means it doesn’t directly help Ferrier and Thomas but it is the hope and goal of those who supported the bill (which, by the way, passed unanimously in the Senate and by an overwhelming majority in the House) that it will inspire more victims to come forward, even after 10 or 15 years.

Nevada:

Just as with HB 1260 in Colorado, Nevada Assembly Bill 212 was sparked by Bill Cosby. Lise-Lott Lublin, a Nevada resident claimed that in 1989 Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her. She did not come forward for many years and her claims were time barred by Nevada’s four-year statute of limitations. But Ms. Lublin, her lawyer Gloria Allred and Nevada State Assemblywoman, Irene Bustamante Adams urged Governor Brian Sandoval to enact Nevada Assembly Bill 212. That Bill, which was signed into law in May 2015 extended the statute of limitations for bringing rape charges from four years to 20 years. Just like in Colorado the new law is not retroactive and does not allow Ms. Lublin’s claims against Bill Cosby to go forward. But Lublin, who was “furious (her own words)” by the inability to pursue charges against Cosby has worked tirelessly to secure change and in doing so has helped countless others who find themselves victims of sexual assault. Here at Proof we are hopeful that this important victory has helped allay a little bit of Lublin’s anger and has helped her feel proud and strong. Thank you Lise!

California:

Several of Cosby’s victims resided in California and in each instance their claims of drugging and sexual assault were barred by California’s ten-year statute of limitations. But on September 28, 2016, California took the bold step of eradicating a time limit on the prosecution of sexual assaults. Now, as with murder, people who commit a sexual assault in California can be called to answer for their actions at any time, whenever the victim comes forward. So, if victims fear coming forward or delay coming forward for any reason, “they will always have an opportunity to seek justice in a court of law,” said Senator Connie Leyva, the author of Senate Bill 813. Just as with Colorado and Nevada the law is not retroactive so Cosby’s victims remain unable to pursue charges against him but they, along with, again, Gloria Allred must be thanked for sparking this very critical change. It is Gloria Allred’s words that so eloquently express the significance of this change: “The passage of this new law means that the courthouse doors will no longer be slammed shut in the face of rape victims. It puts sexual predators on notice that the passage of time may no longer protect them from serious criminal consequences for their acts of sexual violence.” Thank you again to Cosby’s victims, fearless elected officials and others who have taken on this fight and saw it through so that other women can benefit and live with a little less fear of our justice system.

So, yes, while many of us hate Bill Cosby and are anxiously awaiting the day when a Pennsylvania jury convicts him and sends him to jail for the rest of his natural life, here at Proof we do celebrate a modicum of joy in having found a silver lining among the terrible cloud that is former Hollywood funny-man.

James Dean Car Accident | Celebrity News | PROOF with Jill Stanley

50 Years Later, James Dean Car Accident Case Goes to Trial

James Dean, Top Stories

On September 30, 1955, James Dean was killed in a car accident on a California highway. He was only 24 years old. In the few years prior to his death, he was making quite a name for himself even though only one of his movies, East of Eden, had been released. Rebel without a Cause, probably his most well known film, and Giant, were released after that fateful September day. There is a lot of lore surrounding his death—was it his allegedly wild lifestyle that caused it, was his beloved Porsche cursed, was he even the driver? Unfortunately, because the accident occurred more than 50 years ago — long before sophisticated legal forensics existed — we just don’t have many answers.

So, what we at PROOF are going to do is analyze Dean’s accident as we would any catastrophic crash today, in 2016. If his accident occurred today, would he have died? Would any of the parties have sued? Truth is, Dean wasn’t the only person injured that day; both his passenger, Rolf Wutherich, and the driver of the other car, Donald Turnapseed, suffered injuries, physical and emotional. And, perhaps most interesting, would Dean himself have the legal right to sue if he had lived or what about his heirs, if he hadn’t lived?

Certainly car safety features are vastly different from what they were in 1955 when no one even bothered to wear a seatbelt (neither Dean or Wuthnerich had their’s on at the time of the crash) and so perhaps airbags and reinforced steel would have saved Dean’s life or affected the seriousness of the crash. But, more compelling is what would we learn from the event data recorders in the cars involved—the “black boxes” of automobiles. Most people don’t even know cars have them. Ahh, but they do; and we can guarantee that a brand new Porsche, like the one Dean was driving, or a Ford truck like Turnapseed’s vehicle, would be chock full of information. You see, they have to because in 2012, the National Highway Transportation and Safety administration (NHTSA) passed a regulation that event data recorders must track 15 specific data points, including speed, steering, braking, acceleration, seatbelt use, and, in the event of a crash, force of impact and whether airbags deployed. And, the truth is we may be able to find out even more because depending on the car manufacturer and model, event data recorders may have the capability to capture additional information (even though car companies aren’t required to disclose exactly what those are). In fact, if you have newish car, check out the language in your owner’s manual explaining the capabilities of the black box in your car. Notice anything? Purposely vague. Yet, there is a great deal of information to glean from those event data recorders.

PROOF with Jill Stanley is going to take a fresh in depth look at that September 30, 1955 accident applying current day laws governing motor vehicle accident liability and analyzing the effects of how today’s car safety features might have lead to a very, very different outcome—one that would have given us at least sixty more years of that very talented young actor from Indiana. Stay tuned for more!

3 Nasty Neighborhood Disputes | Celebrity News | PROOF with Jill Stanley

3 Nasty Celebrity Neighbor Disputes

Ashley Greene, Celebrity News, Daily, Justin Bieber, Life, Minnie Driver, Top Stories

Minnie Driver. Poor Minnie, only in her new house a few months when her neighbors, the Perelmutters, start complaining about use of a shared driveway (usage that had already been resolved in a 2008 lawsuit in which they were involved). The Perelmutters are alleging that Minnie has thrown baby food jars full of black paint at their house, has prevented access to parts of their home, has hurled expletives at them and, according to an Amended Complaint filed August 2, 2016, are suing her for assault, trespass, private, nuisance and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Minnie obtained a temporary restraining order against Perelmutter in Spring 2016 based on allegations that he blew smoke in her son’s face and cursed at them. And, in September 2016, filed a cross complaint against the Perelmutters. This one is going to stay pretty ugly.
Update: A judge agreed with Minnie Driver and on January 18, 2017, Perelmutter was ordered to knock down the wall he built as well as perform 10 days of community service. Perelmutter has until April 2017 to comply; if he doesn’t, he’s off to jail.
Justin Bieber. Living near the “Sorry” star in theory, sounds like it would be pretty fun but ,most know now that reality of being the Biebs’ neighbor is less than well, neighborly. Kristen Bell and Dax Shepherd compared living next to him like “living in Lebanon” and former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson called the 19-year-old “entitled,” as he described how Bieber speeds up and down the street, and spits on people in the neighborhood. Finally, in 2015 some neighbors did something about it. Jeffrey and Suzanne Schwartz have sued Bieber and his bodyguards for harassing them and their family, vandalizing their house with eggs and threatening them with anti-Semitic remarks. A trial date has not yet been set.
Ashley Greene. Though she seems to have won the hearts of many as Edward Cullen’s sister, Alice, in Twilight, this Hollywood star is not so beloved by her neighbors or doorman at her former West Hollywood apartment. She was sued by them as a result of a fire allegedly caused by a candle she left lit in the apartment in March 2013. The neighbors specifically alleged negligence, emotional distress, nuisance, breach of contract, and trespass and the doorman claimed he sustained injuries while helping tenants escape the burning building. The tenants also said Ashley never apologized for the starting the fire—not a legally actionable claim but an apology may have gone a long way with some of them. The fire was accidental and one of Ashley’s dogs perished in it. In late 2015, Ashley (or more likely, her insurance company) settled the claim for a confidential amount and the entire case was dismissed with prejudice.

These 5 Classy Celebrities Are the Definition of Courtroom Chic

Christie Brinkley, Fashion, Jay-Z, Jude Law, Naomi Campbell, Rihanna, Top Stories

Christie Brinkley

No surprise that former model Christie Brinkley tops this list. Her perfectly fitting camel colored pencil skirt, crisp, fitted but not-too-fitted white blouse, and wide, braided leather belt was so perfectly put together one would think she was styled just for the event (which, she very well may have been). Sad day for Christie though as that court date was necessitated by a very, messy divorce trial from Peter Cook. Cheating on Christie Brinkley, really?

Jay-Z

Is that a high powered LA lawyer walking up the courthouse steps? Nope. It’s Jay-Z looking so sharp and appropriate in his dark suit, starched white shirt and perfectly notched tie as he headed into the U.S. District Court to give testimony in a case involving he and producer Timbaland using an Egyptian song, without prior permission, in one of their tracks.

Rihanna

I still can’t stop talking about Rihanna and the entire style she rocked when she appeared in a DC courtroom in connection with the criminal assault case with Chris Brown. From her neatly styled hair, to her pearls, to perhaps the most perfect little black dress, Rihanna looked the picture of class and calm. With all the media attention and the emotional nature of the case, there’s no doubt Rihanna’s look helped her get through that day—a day that certainly wasn’t an easy one. And, as DC is one of my legal hometowns that doesn’t get too many celebs in its’ halls, I think it makes me like the look even more.

Naomi Campbell

Every time Naomi Campbell goes to court (and that was quite often for a while) she looks even better than the last. I can’t decide which was my favorite look: the black dress, black blazer, black hose and shoes, topped off with black sunglasses and THE best bob or the classic pinstripe suit and white blouse or the demure cream cardigan and knit dress she wore to the Liberian blood diamond trial?

Jude Law

Poor Jude Law. Yes, celebrities are public figures and therefore legally have lower expectations of privacy but News of the World hacking his phone? Not okay. Seems as if Jude took it all in stride as he dashed into court looking very classy in a dark gray wool suit, white shirt, and a simple knit black tie with white dots. The case ultimately settled though for Jude it was never about the money. In fact, in a post settlement statement Jude said the following: “I have now achieved everything I wanted from this litigation. The News of the World has finally made admissions about the extent of their illegal activity and they have acknowledged that what they did was wrong. They have also finally admitted that what they did to me personally amounted to harassment and that it should never have happened… For me this case was never about money. It was about standing up for myself and find out what had happened… what News Group did was an abuse of its freedoms. They have overstepped the mark for many years.” Well said, Jude. Case closed.

3 Reasons Mediation Makes Celebrity Divorces Easier

Ben Affleck, Chris Martin, Divorce, Gwen Stefani, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Garner, Life, Tom Cruise, Top Stories

From Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale’s surprising divorce to Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s “conscious uncoupling,” it is well known the rich and famous have high divorce rates. One thing all the players still seem to have in common though? A desire to keep their dirty laundry to themselves. Below are the three reasons private mediation rather than a public day in court can be the right answer for many celebrities.

1. Mediation is quicker and less expensive than full blown litigation.

LA power lawyers are pricey, charging their celeb clients upwards of $750.00 per hour. Even stars with net worths in the hundreds of millions of dollars don’t want to throw out money. So while celebs generally have lawyers throughout mediation, the process is much, much quicker than traditional litigation thanks to less stringent rules regarding documentation, evidence and testimony. This quicker process means that not only do parties save money but they reduce the pain and stress on the family. This is especially when children are involved. Though as of this writing, they are still technically together, it is well known that Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck turned to mediation in order to keep their children’s best interests as top priority when the couple opted for mediation when working out visitation, custody and other matters related to their three children. And, something additional to think about? Maybe the quicker, less contentious atmosphere of mediation, has helped this couple stay together, or at least put their divorce on hold despite announcing their intention to do so more than a year ago.

2. Mediation is private.

Divorce is messy for everyone but with celebrities these matters often involve salacious tales of drugs, cheating, bad judgment, and, not to mention, revelations of financial details. So, it is no surprise that celebrities, perhaps more than average Joes and Janes want to keep these matters private. With the paparazzi on a constant hunt for a juicy story, celebrity couples going through a divorce can harness some sense of security by knowing that mediation is confidential and that by staying out of court their family’s private life remains just that–private. Though other factors were at play, it is thanks to the confidentiality of mediation that the details of Tom Cruise’s three divorces are nowhere to be found. Without that, imagine the details and drama about Mimi, Nicole and Katie’s lives that would be out there in the public domain.

3. Mediation offers a distinct path to settlement.

The goal of mediation is to settle. Trace and Rhonda Atkins divorce is a great example of how mediation can coax a settlement. Their divorce, stemming from Trace’s years of boozing and womanizing began intensely with Rhonda demanding a settlement worth nearly $20 million. But instead of engaging in an aggressive, drawn out legal battle, she soon sought dismissal of the case, and the couple proceeded with mediation. A private compromise was reached and family was spared the trauma of having the world knowing exactly what was going on behind doors at the Atkins’ house.

Meet Two of Bill Cosby’s Accusers | Celeb News | PROOF with Jill Stanley

Meet Two of Bill Cosby’s Accusers: Ruehli and Constand

Bill Cosby, Criminal Law, Life, Top Stories, Trending

As we all know, the once adored creator and star of The Cosby Show has become one of America’s most despised men. To date, more than 50 women have publicly accused Bill Cosby of rape, sexual assault or attempted assault. His disturbing behavior spanned decades. Now, he has been charged and, in the coming year, will stand trial in a Pennsylvania court. His accusers vary in just about every aspect from age to appearance to socioeconomic background. We could spend days talking about these women, dissecting their lives and interaction with Cosby but, let’s look at two of his accusers as they serve to crystallize so much of what this case is about: the earliest victim, Kristina Ruehli, and the former basketball player, Andrea Constand, whose refusal to back down sparked Ruehli to speak up.

In December 1965, Kristina Ruehli, was a 22-year-old talent agency secretary whom Cosby invited to a cocktail party at his home. When she arrived fashionably late to the party, Ruehli was surprised she was the only one there. She quickly realized there was, in fact, no party but agreed to stay for a cocktail– he was Bill Cosby after all. Ruehli only remembers her first few of sips. When she regained consciousness hours later, she found herself with Cosby in his bedroom; he was attempting to force her to perform oral sex. Ashamed and embarrassed, Ruehli, the beautiful, blue eyed blonde did not report the incident. But in 2005, buoyed by the stories of other victims, Ruehli gained the courage to speak out. Specifically, it was during Andrea Constand’s civil lawsuit that Ruehli exposed what Cosby had done to her. Ruehli, now 73 years old, has since dropped her charges against Cosby. But she did not do so for want of proof or because she felt some latent shame for herself or sympathy for Cosby but rather because she believes her suit against him did what she wanted it to do: shed light on the issue of sexual assault in this country. Can’t fault a woman for that.

Cosby approached Andrea Constand in 2002 while both were affiliated with Temple University in Philadelphia. He offered to act as her mentor. Who would say no to that? One time while Constand was at Cosby’s house she mentioned that she was feeling anxious. He gave her an herbal pill that he said would help ease that. Ok, maybe that wasn’t the smartest choice by Constand but remember, she was a fan and Cosby was widely known as a fatherly figure, very upstanding. The pill did a lot more than reduce Constand’s anxiety. It made her immobile. She was unable to escape while Cosby undressed her and sexually assaulted her. For years, she kept the assault a secret, but after struggling through nightmares and depression, she finally let it out. She filed a civil lawsuit against Cosby and that matter was resolved via a confidential settlement in 2006. One of the clauses in the settlement? Constand was not to talk about the matter with anyone. But, she cooperated with law enforcement during a subsequent criminal investigation. An investigation that led to Cosby’s arrest. Cosby and his legal team did not make it easy on Constand. He sued her for violating the agreement and demanded that she return the money that he paid her. In July 2016, U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno ruled that Constand’s cooperation in the investigation did not violate the nondisclosure provision in the 2006 settlement. Cosby will now stand trial. With regard to proof Cosby’s trial is going to rival that of O.J’s.

Hope You Like Orange, Jerry | Celebrity News | PROOF with Jill Stanley

We Hope You Like Orange, Jerry Sandusky

Athletes, Criminal Law, Daily, Jerry Sandusky, Top Stories

With college football season about to kick off, Jerry Sandusky is back in the news. Yes, the Jerry Sandusky of Paterno and Penn State “fame.” We all thought we were done with this convicted child molester thanks to the 30-60 year sentence that was handed down in 2012 but alas, no. Just this week, Sandusky took the stand at a hearing in which he sought to have his conviction overturned or at least receive a new trial. Based on what you ask? In layman’s terms, he is arguing that his lawyer was so bad that it resulted in him being wrongly convicted and, at the very least, Jerry should have another chance to prove his innocence. These types of appeals, based on what is referred to as an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, are not easily won—even appeals based on lawyers who were sleeping during a trial have not been found to have been ineffective! So, Sandusky’s claim that his lawyer never really explained to him what it meant for him not to testify or that he gave him bad advice when he allowed him to be interviewed on camera by Bob Costas (Really? You were an assistant coach at a college football powerhouse for 30 years and you didn’t know the effect of an interview with a well-known sportscaster?) are not likely to sway the judge. The fact is judges generally defer to trial court findings. So, orange is definitely remaining the new black for you Jerry. No way you win this one.

Billy Bush Terminated | Celebrity News | PROOF with Jill Stanley

Did NBC Make the Right Decision Terminating Billy Bush?

Billy Bush, Daily, Donald Trump, Top Stories

PROOF Answer: Yes

In August 2016, Billy Bush, former Access Hollywood reporter, was hired to cover the third hour of the popular NBC morning show, The Today Show. This was a big feather in Bush’s cap. But from the start, the relationship was rocky. While in Rio covering the Olympics, it was Bush who first interviewed Ryan Lochte after Lochte lied about being held up at gunpoint in Brazil. Bush failed to question any aspect of Lochte’s story and within hours of Bush’s interview, as the story went viral, it was readily apparent that what Lochte said happened, in fact, didn’t. It was also in Rio that Bush bragged about knowing of footage of Donald Trump “acting like a dog.” Bush’s bravado came back to bite him (pun intended!), because as we all now know after hearing Bush brag about it, Access Hollywood staffers started to look for the footage. And, boy did they find it! Unfortunately for NBC while their lawyers thought about what to do with it, someone at Access Hollywood no longer wanted to sit idly by and leaked the footage to the Washington Post. Soon, the whole world knew exactly what went down on that Access Hollywood bus. Trump clearly was in fact “acting like a dog.” And Billy Bush, ever the celebrity sycophant wasn’t much better. He wasn’t simply agreeing with Trump’s inappropriate comments about women but was encouraging Trump, securing hugs for the both of them—a sort of accomplice, if you will. Or in this instance, loyal frat brother or in Trump lingo, locker room mate. NBC responded by ultimately (note, not immediately) suspending Bush. And now, NBC has terminated Bush and he’s not going back to his desk at The Today Show.

Though Bush’s contract with NBC is not available to the public at the time of this writing what is very likely that there is a morality clause in that contract. What is further clear is that Mr. Bush violated that morality clause by his actions and thereby breached his contract, which gives NBC a legal basis on which to fire him. Morality clauses are standard in employment contracts in the entertainment and news industry. They serve to protect an employer’s legitimate concern with public opinion. This is especially important for journalists ( yes, I know it’s hard to think of Billy Bush as a journalist but technically he is/was) because in order for viewers to trust journalists, to listen to them and to rely on them when they interview guests or discuss topics of national or local importance, credibility is paramount. When that credibility is called into question, as it has been with Billy Bush, employers must and should take action.

Bush’s employment situation was further complicated by the fact that several staffers at NBC have expressed their discontent with him and their desire not to work with him. No doubt these staffers are glad that NBC made permanent Bush’s temporary suspension. NBC simply could not afford to alienate its female staffers by keeping Bush on the job. But even more important to NBC? They couldn’t afford to alienate viewers and, The Today Show, has a very large female audience. Just look at Bush’s Facebook page or read the thousands of comments across various social media platforms and it is without question that if NBC decided to keep Bush on, The Today Show would have suffered in the ratings.

So, from a business perspective, the decision by NBC to terminate Billy Bush wasn’t all that difficult and resolving it all via settlement was smart. All parties now go away relatively peacefully without lawsuits. No Warner Brothers/Charlie Sheen situation here.

Celebs Under the Influence | Celebrity News | Proof with Jill Stanley

Here’s Why You Don’t See Celebs Under the Influence Getting Jail Time

Athletes, Daily, Life, Top Stories

The number of celebrities who drive while intoxicated is high – no pun intended. That’s because, as I keep saying, at the end of the day, they’re human, and they drive drunk about as much as the rest of the population. The numbers are staggering. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 4 million U.S. adult respondents reported at least one episode of alcohol-impaired driving. And the State Department reports that in 2011, 1.2 million were arrested for driving under the influence or alcohol or narcotics. But, with regard to drunk driving and the justice system that is where the similarities between celebs and mere mortals end. Why is it that famous people seem to have an easier time “beating” these charges? One main reason: money. Celebs have the financial ability to hire really good lawyers. Can I say that any louder? Money=Rock star Representation. The truth is there’s a difference between a really good lawyer and an average one. As Jesse Lorona, a lawyer known for successfully fighting DUI charges says, “Having the benefit of an aggressive DUI lawyer is critical. The state is required to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt … the defendant is not required to prove innocence. Our goal is to make sure that when the state fails, our clients are not wrongly convicted. There are many, many ways to defeat a DUI charge.”

Mr. Lorona is correct and if you have the funds to retain these tough, savvy advocates to fight on your behalf, your odds of getting an acquittal or a sweetheart plea deal definitely go up. And, in most states in order to prevail in a DUI/DWI case, it helps to hire an expert witness—which costs money! Generally, this is a toxicologist who will find holes in the government’s case regarding any alcohol level testing that was done. They’ll analyze the test and delve deep into figuring out if the test was performed properly, how much time passed between when it was performed and when the celeb was actually behind the wheel, and if the results were in fact read and interpreted accurately. If the hired witness can help weaken the government’s case, the easier is to get off or get a better plea deal.

Yep. Stars, they’re just like us. Sorry, at PROOF we tell it the way it is.

NB to all: How ‘bout we all just uber or have our assistants drive us where we need to go. Or better yet, just party at home and stay put.

Hulk Hogan Wins Lawsuit | Celebrity News | PROOF with Jill Stanley

Here’s How Hulk Hogan Wrestled $140M Away from Gawkerr

Athletes, Celebrity Lawsuits, Hulk Hogan, Top Stories, Trending

By now you have probably heard that in March 2016, Hulk Hogan won a $140 million verdict against Gawker Media, an online media company and blog network. Here is a quick overview of what happened: Hulk Hogan’s real name is Terry Bollea. In 2012, Gawker Media posted a video of Mr. Bollea (Hulk Hogan) having sex with his former friend’s now ex-wife. Despite multiple requests to have the the video taken down, Gawker refused. Eventually Hogan filed suit and the case went to trial. In general, people who are deemed to be “public figures” have a lower expectation of privacy than we mere mortals do. At trial, Gawker argued that Hulk Hogan is a public figure and therefore posting and maintaining that video on their site did not invade his privacy. Hulk Hogan disagreed and said the video was not his public persona, Hulk Hogan, but rather a video of Terry Boella as a private citizen in his private capacity. The jury agreed with Hogan/Boella and awarded him $140 million in damages. So, Hulk gets the money and all is well that ends well, right? Not so fast. Gawker filed bankruptcy after the verdict and has appealed the case. There are talks of settlement but so far nothing. PROOF will keep an eye out and keep you posted on any developments.

Shaun White Sexual Harrassment | Celeb News | Proof with Jill Stanley

Shaun White, I Am So Mad at You

Athletes, Shaun White, Top Stories, Trending

I really am. You were my favorite snowboarder, my kids looked up to you, we even have a skateboard you signed that I got by trading in thousands of credit card points. I’m thinking about selling it on Ebay or, on second thought, maybe I’ll just throw it out. And when everyone was referring to you as the Flying Tomato, I refused to do so, thinking you were too cool for that silly nickname. But, you know what? There are a few names I’d like to call you right now and they make that sound like the height of coolness. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about, Shaun. For those of you who don’t, and from my unscientific poll, many don’t, here’s what is going on with this former Olympian: He’s being sued for sexual harassment and back pay by Leah Zawaideh, his former Bad Things bandmate. Among Zawaideh claims is that White sent her sexually explicit texts, forced her to watch pornographic videos (some involving animals), and tried to coerce her into wearing revealing clothing on stage. When she refused to comply with his demands, the snowboarder fired her and refused to pay wages she rightfully earned. Zawaideh has released some of the texts and they are not pretty. But more than that, they are actionable which means they present solid evidence on which to base a sexual harassment claim. Interesting, though, White doesn’t deny sending the texts but rather, cavalierly says the the two were friends at the time and that she’s now using them to craft a bogus lawsuit. Really? Is that how we treat friends. She’s not your former girlfriend, she’s not your former lover, she not your former anything other than your bandmate and you misread that relationship. Not sure why. She didn’t ask to be treated this way. She didn’t ask for the d**k pics, the porn. And while you have a right to shape your band’s image, you can’t do so by violating the law.

Here at Proof we stand behind Lena Zawaideh and her strength in choosing to pursue a case that won’t be easy nor popular. We commend you for saying loudly and clearly that women shouldn’t have to tolerate harassment at work and Shaun White shouldn’t be allowed to do whatever he wants just because he is famous. No need to be embarrassed anymore, Leah. You’re my new hero(ine). Got a pair of drumsticks you can autograph for me and my kids? I’ll gladly hand over my credit card points.