Using protection
#MeToo has rich city men on guard vs. extorters
New York City men are protecting themselves from the dark side of the #MeToo movement, including an upswing in false accusations and blackmail, lawyers and private eyes say.
One young technology exec said he has six Nest cams installed in his swanky downtown condo to “document and provide corroboration for what’s happening in my private life.” “It’s an insurance policy,” he said. When he recently brought home a date and realized she was highly intoxicated, he turned to one of the cams and called her a ride home.
“I tried to keep the interaction fully within views of the camera before calling her a Lyft,” he said.
The exec says #MeToo — while giving a voice to victims of sexual assault and harassment — has emboldened other women to falsely accuse well-appointed men for financial gain, fame or vengeance.
“Anonymous accusations are now possible, and the media believes the court of public opinion should not hold itself to anything resembling the court of law,” he said.
He cited an article posted on Babe.net in January that detailed an anonymous woman’s account of her date with actor-comedian Aziz Ansari. The story, which claimed Ansari pressured her into sex, was criticized as a hit piece that undermined the #MeToo movement.
“It’s disconcerting. So you need to have your own documentation to back up your facts,” the exec said.
“Rich men are not the victims, but we may be the targets.”
Private investigator Herman Weisberg agrees, saying he has seen an increase in extortion cases since #MeToo gained widespread attention last year.
“Since October, I’ve gotten about 25 cases of solid extortion threats,” said Weisberg, managing director of Sage Intelligence Group.
“I think in some cases, a few manipulative people are using the #MeToo movement as leverage . . . It gives their baseless, false claims more teeth.” Weisberg says it has become a common tactic for extorters to e-mail a man with whom they have had relations and demand an apology in writing.
“They claim that their therapist says that’s the important first step,” Weisberg said.
“Let’s just say a high-powered person writes an e-mail back and says, ‘Wow, I’m really sorry you feel that way, and I’m sorry if I did anything,’ they are basically admitting wrongdoing, whether or not they even know what they are apologizing for.”
Weisberg said he considers it a red flag when an accuser seeks money directly from the accused or threatens to go public on social media.
“If you’re going to do it, do it — go on social media. But don’t threaten the person in advance . . . That’s what we call in the business a ‘ cash grab.’ ”
On edge over the wave of sexualmisconduct allegations against prominent figures, professional men in New York say they have been avoiding evening outings with female colleagues.
The tech exec, meanwhile, is trying to stay one step ahead with his in-home security system.
“I think that every single man in New York . . . is being a lot more careful now,” he said, “which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”