Paris Hilton-Backed Metaverse Firm Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuits

Crypto metaverse agency Everyrealm has settled three sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuits filed final yr. 

Former Oakland Raiders NFL participant Teyo Johnson beforehand labored at Everyrealm as a strategic partnerships director and alleged that Everyrealm CEO Janine Yorio dedicated verbal sexual harassment and racial discrimination towards him.

Johnson’s lawsuit alleged that Yorio made feedback “implying that Ms. Yorio owned Mr. Johnson” and allegedly made derogatory feedback towards Black staff, together with Johnson, amongst different complaints.

Everyrealm, which is backed by large title celebrities comparable to Will Smith, The Weeknd, and Paris Hilton, denied the claims and beforehand informed Decrypt that the allegations “are with out benefit.”

Johnson has now settled the swimsuit with Everyrealm and has publicly apologized, based on the corporate. Everyrealm pays Johnson $51,456 as a substitute of the $1.9 million Johnson sought in his lawsuit.

Everyrealm’s board of administrators issued a press release shared with Decrypt that backs the agency’s CEO in response to the lawsuit’s decision.

“Our confidence in Janine Yorio as an moral and efficient CEO has by no means wavered. The person behind these claims now brazenly ‘regrets’ remarks made in ‘the warmth of litigation,’ a public acknowledgment that the allegations don’t replicate Janine’s character or Everyrealm’s tradition,” the board acknowledged.

“For the previous yr, now we have staunchly defended our place in courtroom and are happy to have resolved this problem favorably. We sit up for persevering with to construct an organization that creates progressive options for avid social avid gamers, and our conviction within the enterprise and Ms. Yorio’s management is as robust as ever,” Everyrealm’s board added. 

Johnson wasn’t the one former Everyrealm worker who filed a lawsuit towards the corporate and its CEO final yr. Former HR Director Katherine Yost alleged that she was discriminated towards due to her disclosed disabilities, bisexual id, and claimed that an worker with autism had been referred to as “the crew mascot.” Former Everyrealm product supervisor Gatsby Frimpong additionally filed a swimsuit towards the agency, alleging sexual harassment. 

Each Johnson and Yost had additionally claimed that they had been being paid lower than their white, male counterparts at Everyrealm. 

Yost’s lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed, based on courtroom paperwork. The New York Publish reported that Yost has been paid $38,847.79 and Frimpong has been paid $37,616.37 to resolve their fits. In whole, the sum of funds made on account of the three lawsuits quantities to $127,920.16.

Seppinni LLP, the agency that filed the three lawsuits, didn’t instantly reply to Decrypt’s request for remark.