Abuse of Power
Ex-Meta Employee Sues After 15 Years: Alleges Sexual Harassment, Discrimination & Unfair Layoff
A former Meta employee, Kelly Stonelake, has filed a lawsuit against the tech giant, alleging sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, and being denied promotions. Stonelake, who was laid off in January 2024, also claims that her managers ignored her concerns about the safety of minors using Meta’s Horizon products, Fortune reported.
Stonelake, 37, worked as a mid-level creative director at Meta and initially considered it her dream job. However, over her 15-year tenure, she says she encountered a toxic corporate culture that eventually led to her dismissal while she was on an emergency mental health leave. In her lawsuit, she alleges that she was ultimately laid off due to her extended medical absence. Her last official day at Meta was January 8, 2024.
Allegations of Harassment and Discrimination
In her complaint, Stonelake described an unsettling incident at a company gathering where a male executive allegedly made an inappropriate remark. She claims the executive, who was in her management chain, drunkenly asked, “Hey Kelly, what would your husband say if you called him right now and said that you f####d me?”
Stonelake’s lawsuit includes performance reviews that she says highlight her strong track record, as well as screenshots of hostile messages from male colleagues. She alleges that she faced discrimination repeatedly and was often left questioning whether the issue was something about her rather than the work environment.
Lawsuit Amid Broader Controversy at Meta
Stonelake’s lawsuit comes as Meta faces increasing scrutiny over its handling of layoffs. Many employees have pushed back against the company’s claims that job cuts were performance-based, arguing instead that they were dismissed for taking leaves of absence.
Adding to the controversy, CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently spoke about workplace culture, stating that companies should encourage “masculine energy” and that it is beneficial when workplaces “celebrate aggression a bit more.” His comments, made during a podcast with Joe Rogan, sparked further debate, particularly as they preceded Meta’s decision to lay off 3,600 employees for what Zuckerberg described as “low performance.”
Meta’s Response
Meta has declined to comment on Stonelake’s allegations, citing ongoing litigation. The lawsuit adds to the growing concerns over workplace culture at the company, as it continues to navigate legal battles and employee dissatisfaction.