We’re currently in an era of “cancelling culture” that is designed to both amplify the voices of those who have been wronged and ruin those who have been accused of misconduct.
I want to be clear when I say that this movement has been undeniably important for a lot of people — victims of sexual assault should never be scared into silence, no matter how famous their perpetrators are.
However, “cancelling culture” is a little different from things like the Time’s Up movement. Some people have criticized society’s ability to completely discredit alleged perpetrators as “too harsh” if there isn’t “enough proof” against them.
On one hand, anyone who has a story to share should be heard. On the other, we are not a court of law.
Self-Help Guru Tony Robbins is very much a loved and hated public figure.
Robbins’ career in motivational speaking has elevated him to celebrity status.
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Sessions to attend his programs cost upwards of $10,000 per ticket, though his audiences claim that the empowerment they gain from his teachings has been priceless.
Last week, five of his former staffers and fans publicly accused him of sexual misconduct.
Buzzfeed News released the detailed investigation “Unlimited Power”, which outlined allegations against the self-help guru.
The article called out Robbins for allegedly berating victims of sexual abuse, as well as making unwanted advances towards fans and employees over the past thirty years.
Now, four additional women have shared stories in which they were mistreated by Robbins.
Buzzfeed interviewed three former followers and a former personal assistant of Robbins, who each shared stories in which Robbins “exposed himself, groped them, or made unwanted advances” between 1980 and the early 2000s.
This brings the total number of women who have come out against him to nine.
Former personal assistant Kimberly Stokes worked and lived with Robbins when she was 22-years old.
She revealed to Buzzfeed News that despite her clear disgust at his previous advances towards her, Robbins dropped his towel after a shower and “exposed himself to her.”
Another woman described an interview with Robbins as “sexually inappropriate, almost predatory.”
Lucie Galvez was allegedly told in 2001 during an interview with Robbins for a personal assistant position that she would frequently have to be naked and comfortable with Robbins frequently being naked.
“It felt like I was getting interviewed for sexual threesomes as opposed to an assistant’s job,” she told Buzzfeed News.
Two other women described horrifying sexual advances by Robbins at his seminars.
Sophiah Koikas explained that Robbins” pulled her hand onto his crotch to feel his penis and groped her breast” at a Hawaii seminar.
Mary Lantz alleges that Robbins harassed her at an Ohio event and told her that she was “driving him crazy”. This was combined with unwanted kissing, hugging, and groping.
Robbins has publicly denounced the allegations.
However, his only proof is self-released.
He’s provided quotes on his Instagram of his two former staffers backtracking on their statements and expressing how much of a positive impact Robbins has had on their lives, but they have not publicly expressed these views — only through Robbins and his legal team.
So where do we go from here?
Robbins has every right to defend himself— by a court of law, he’s innocent until proven guilty. However, it would be naive and unfair to ignore the stories of nine women whose lives will never be the same after interacting with this man.
All we can do is listen and watch as a fuller, more detailed version of events emerges.
h/t: Buzzfeed News