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The dating app Tinder is in the news after Tinder’s former VP of Marketing Whitney Wolfe lodged a sexual harassment complaint against some of her former male co-workers, including Tinder co-founder Justin Mateen. Here’s what you need to know about this tech scandal.
(Pictured above, L-R: Justin Mateen of Tinder, Connie Anne Phillips of Glamour, Sean Rad of Tinder, and Whitney Wolfe.)
1. Whitney Wolfe Alleges Sexual Harassment at Tinder
Former Tinder exec files sexual harassment lawsuit against company http://t.co/Pa8LMfrKg6 pic.twitter.com/9BpKmGxTxA
— Anthony De Rosa (@AntDeRosa) July 1, 2014
The Wall Street Journal writes that Whitney Wolfe, one of Tinder’s early hires and the app’s former VP of Marketing, has filed a complaint against both Tinder and Tinder’s parent company IAC. WSJ recounts the circumstances that led to Wolfe’s complaint:
“Justin Mateen, repeatedly called [Wolfe] a ‘whore’ and says he removed her ‘co-founder’ title because she was a ‘young female.’ The suit goes on to describe a ‘frat-like’ atmosphere, where it was common for male executives to use racist and sexist terms. The suit also accuses Tinder’s CEO, Sean Rad, of using such language and ignoring her complaints.”
2. Tinder’s Justin Mateen Has Been Suspended
Founder of dating app #Tinder suspended over claims former executive was sexually harassed http://t.co/Ax07irCqiI pic.twitter.com/g7HMSPsPE0
— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 1, 2014
According to Buzzfeed, Tinder’s co-founder Justin Mateen has been suspended in the wake of these sexual harassment allegations.
USA Today quotes a statement from IAC, one of Tinder’s parent companies:
“Immediately upon receipt of the allegations contained in Ms. Wolfe’s complaint, Mr. Mateen was suspended pending an ongoing internal investigation. Through that process, it has become clear that Mr. Mateen sent private messages to Ms. Wolfe containing inappropriate content. We unequivocally condemn these messages, but believe that Ms. Wolfe’s allegations with respect to Tinder and its management are unfounded.”
3. Tinder Sexual Harassment Suit Part of a Disturbing Trend in the Tech Sector
This whole @tinder debacle is a very bad example of how Silicon Valley seems to work http://t.co/EiXSti0XHU
— Marcelo Careaga (@MarceloCareaga) July 1, 2014
The complaint filed against the leadership at Tinder is part of a disturbing trend in the tech realm. Justin Mateen is far from the only tech leader in recent weeks to be at the center of a scandal.
As we reported previously, former RadiumOne CEO Gurbaksh ‘G’ Chahal recently plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges at a trial related to domestic abuse. Additionally, Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia was allegedly involved in a hit and run earlier this year.
The Detroit Free Press adds that even Snapchat’s CEO has been in hot water:
“Last month, Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel got into hot water when explicit emails he sent while a student at Stanford University surfaced. Spiegel apologized for the emails which contained statements that were demeaning to women.”
4. Whitney Wolfe Dated Justin Mateen at One Point
Tinder CEO @seanrad talks about how the app is heating things up at the #worldcup http://t.co/JuLN37HXb8 @ABC #SMDay pic.twitter.com/ng9hv4QSSc
— Tinder (@Tinder) June 30, 2014
According to the New York Daily News, Wolfe and Mateen were an item at one time. The Daily News explains:
“Wolfe was one of five who helped found and launch the Los Angeles-based app in 2012. She at one point dated Mateen, though she says he repeatedly called her a ‘slut’ and ‘whore,’ oftentimes in front of Chief Executive Officer Sean Rad.”
TechCrunch elaborates with some shocking details about their relationship:
“The suit also describes the romantic relationship that Mateen pursued with Wolfe, despite the fact that he was her direct supervisor. When things went sour between them, issues within the organization became even more difficult. After a breakup in December of last year, the suit claims, Mateen told Wolfe to stay away from other men for a period of six months.”
5. There Might Not Be a Tinder Without Wolfe
I'm shocked that the dudes that made Tinder turned out to be awful people. What were the odds?
— dan sinker (@dansinker) July 1, 2014
According to Business Insider, Wolfe appears to have been integral in the development of Tinder. Whitney Wolfe came up with the name Tinder, and “took the idea” for the app under her wing after the company’s former app offering, Cardify, failed to find an audience. Wolfe was also responsible for promoting the app on college campuses and growing the user base.
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Tinder’s Whitney Wolfe: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know