A former Bay Area tech CEO was fired earlier this year after allegedly enslaving, torturing, and sexually abusing his assistant. He claims the pair had a consensual relationship that people would “celebrate” if it were fictitious.

Former Tradeshift CEO Christian Lanng denied the allegations levied against him and the billion-dollar company he co-founded that were made by a former employee in court Thursday.

"The shocking and vile claims in the lawsuit are categorically false, and I reject allegations that I subjected someone to any form of abuse during my tenure as CEO or at any other time of my life,” Lanng told The Messenger.

In the complaint, an unidentified woman alleged that Lanng sent her into “a dark abyss of unwanted sexual horror," according to The Mercury News.

  • indomara@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Man… being into kink is dangerous if you have money and there’s a scorched earth breakup. I have heard people in kink circles say that having a contract signed by both parties offers some protection, but here it is being used against him in court. Eeek.

    • Fisk400@feddit.nu
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      11 months ago

      It’s fine as long as you don’t do it with employees. If you find a woman with no social or financial dependence on you, you will be golden. It’s actually not that difficult since most of the adult woman population isn’t directly employed by you and a portion of them like being subs and doing kinky shit.

      • indomara@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Apparently they were dating before she was hired. I can see how easily lines could be blurred when in love. The saying don’t shit where you eat is appropriate with regards to work and relationships, but often people can’t help themselves.

        • Fisk400@feddit.nu
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          11 months ago

          Sometimes people can’t help themselves? You are describing the defense of every single crime in history.

          He is a fucking Millionaire in charge of a company and you are talking about him like he failed the marshmallow test.

          • indomara@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            I mean, nepotism is rife across the world, clutch your pearls all you like but it’s common enough to date colleagues or employ those with familial ties despite the warnings against. Do note that I didn’t defend his choices, comparing them to shitting where you eat.

            • 1847953620@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              yeah, hiring her as his assistant isn’t ideal as the risk to the company, but in terms of nepotism, it doesn’t sound as bad to me as the CEOs that will make someone a director over an entire department just because they’re banging (have seen this irl)