Since the #MeToo movement launched in the fall of 2017, there have been countless stories of violators in almost every industry, including actors, producers, comedians, musicians, politicians, high finance principals, media anchors and personalities, sports franchise owners, and athletes, who have been outed for sexual harassment, and who as a consequence have been fired from their jobs.  Yet, sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct continues and in many industries, is flourishing.

What is most surprising is that violators continue to ignore the potential consequences to their careers if the inappropriate conduct is found out, especially in a work or other public context where the risk of discovery is high.

Jeffrey Toobin—a senior staff writer of 27 years with the New Yorker and a CNN senior legal analyst, was caught pleasuring himself during a work Zoom call. It did not matter that he thought he had “muted his video” during the call and his co-workers were coming back to the call from a break.  It did not matter that he thought he could not be seen. As one report noted, he may have been at home, but he was on a Zoom call—for work—and “it is never okay to masturbate during a work meeting.”  Could Toobin not wait until he was on his own private time after working hours? Toobin has been fired from the magazine and has been placed on leave from his senior legal analyst job at CNN. 

Cal Cunningham—Democratic North Carolina U.S. Senate candidate and Army Reserve Lt. Col. James Cal Cunningham failed to unseat Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, a seat the Democrats were fighting hard to pick up in a bid to take majority control of the Senate this election. His hard fought quest may have been derailed after the discovery of sexual text messages and an affair with public relations consultant Arlene Guzman Todd of California, whose husband is an Army veteran. Cunningham is married with two children. Now the Army Reserve is investigating Cunningham’s conduct and he may be subject to disciplinary action. The military prohibits adultery and other activities detrimental to the “good order and discipline in the armed forces.” 

Cunningham gambled his family, reputation and potential senate seat for an extramarital affair—at a time when he was under intense scrutiny.

Since 2017, the professional careers of more than 262 individuals within arts and entertainment, business, media, military, sports and other areas have been turned into shambles as a result of sexual misconduct allegations — some dating back more than 25 years.

What will it take for violators to take note and learn? Stupid, stupid, stupid. What more can we say?

What will you do today to be #beupstanding and help #changetheculture for an environment without #sexualharassment, #abuse and #racism? #TimesUp. Let’s #playnice. For more info on this topic and other related issues, check out "Play Nice - Playground Rules for Respect in the Workplace,” and join us at www.thesandboxseries.com.