STEELE CANNED
Vox editorial director admits ‘improper’ conduct
Vox Media has fired Editorial Director Lockhart Steele after a former employee wrote in a blog about being sexually harassed by two company executives.
Although no Vox executive was named in the former employee’s blog, Steele did admit to improper conduct, Vox Chief Executive Jim Bankoff told employees in a Slack message Thursday night.
“Lock admitted engaging in conduct that is inconsistent with our core values and will not be tolerated at Vox Media,” Bankoff said in the message, referring to Steele by a nickname.
The former employee described an incident involving a “VP” of an employer.
The Awl, which first reported Steele’s firing, identified the author of the Medium post as Eden Rohatensky, a former Web developer for Vox.
Bankoff said that along with the Steele firing, Vox is continuing “our investigation into issues raised by a former employee in a post on Medium.”
That probe continues, Bankoff said.
Steele is the founder of the Curbed Network and joined Vox in 2013 after he sold the home-focused site to the media company in a cash-andstock deal reportedly worth $20 million to $30 million.
When reached by e-mail on Friday, Rohatensky confirmed “participating in the investigation” — but declined to elaborate.
Speaking about inappropriate office behavior in general, Rohatensky said: “While my heart is with those who are not ready to speak up, I’m happy I was in a position where I could, and I’m grateful for everyone else who is doing so.
“Human beings deserve to feel safe in their work environments, and I truly hope this is the beginning of a shift.”
Efforts to reach Steele were unsuccessful.
In the Medium post, dated Oct. 12, Rohatensky detailed a post-party Uber ride shared with unidentified colleagues and executives during a corporate retreat for an unspecified company.
“We drove towards our destination and suddenly I felt the VP caress my hand. And then my arm. And then suddenly, in the dark corner of the car, he was kissing my neck.”
Rohatensky acknowledged being fired about a month after the incident “due to lack of productivity” — and then decided to report the incident.
Rohatensky wrote that an investigation after the reporting of the VP’s misconduct revealed he had “multiple victims.”
However, because he reportedly had so much equity in the company, “his punishment was being told he could not drink at corporate events any longer,” Rohatensky recounted.
Efforts to contact Vox about Rohatensky were unsuccessful.