A Georgetown University adviser has resigned after telling a female conservative commentator that he hoped she would have her own ‘#metoo moment’, appearing to wish she would experience sexual harassment or assault.
Jeffrey Bernstein, who was a Master of Foreign Service advisory board member at Georgetown, got into a heated Twitter exchange with Allie Stuckey, founder of the Conservative Millennium blog.
Stuckey tweeted on Saturday that the #MeToo social media movement to expose systemic sexual abuse was a symptom of a broken world, not a broken legal system.
Later that day, Bernstein wrote: ‘Wishing you a #metoo movement. Maybe then you won’t be so insensitive.’
The #MeToo movement began after many men in entertainment, media and journalism were exposed for sexual misconduct. The movement has encouraged women to speak out about their experiences with sexual harassment or assault.
Georgetown University adviser Jeffrey Bernstein resigned after telling a female conservative commentator that he hoped she would have her own ‘#metoo moment’, appearing to wish she would experience sexual harassment or assault (pictured)
Bernstein (left), who was a Master of Foreign Service advisory board member at Georgetown, got into a heated Twitter exchange with Allie Stuckey (right) after she said that the #MeToo social media movement was a symptom of a broken world, not a broken legal system
‘Though I’m no stranger to disagreeable, sexist Internet trolls, to me, this was too far,” the 25-year-old told The Hoya (pictured, Stuckey’s tweet)
After the attack, Stuckey tweeted Georgetown a screenshot of Bernstein’s tweet and wrote: ‘Hi @Georgetown – Someone on your MSFS board just told me he hopes I get sexually harassed or assaulted. Is this the kind of standard your university holds for your advisers?’
Bernstein apologized multiple times before he deleted his social media accounts.
‘I apologize for making a stupid and insensitive comment. I would never wish harm on anyone and apologized to Allie repeatedly,’ he said.
‘I feel terribly. I have been a continuous voice against gender bias. As a father of three, I am embarrassed and this is a lesson for me that words have power.’
After the attack, Stuckey tweeted Georgetown a screenshot of Bernstein’s tweet and wrote in part: ‘Is this the kind of standard your university holds for your advisers?’ (pictured)
Bernstein apologized multiple times, first on Twitter (pictured), and then in a statement before he deleted his social media accounts
Bernstein’s resignation was announced on Monday and he was also fired from managing director at Solebury Capital, an equity advisory firm
Stuckey (pictured) told Campus Reform she believes his apology was sincere, but only after he had been ‘dragged through the mud’
On Monday morning, Georgetown Dean Joel Hellman released a statement saying Bernstein had cut ties with the university.
‘We appreciate Mr. Bernstein’s efforts to apologize for recent comments deeply inconsistent with our values and mission and have accepted his resignation from the MSFS Board of Advisors. MSFS will continue its dedication to preparing women and men for leadership roles in global affairs,’ Hellman wrote.
Bernstein, who was also managing director at Solebury Capital, was then fired from his position at the equity advisory firm.
‘We learned about Mr Bernstein’s conduct last evening and immediately investigated the matter,’ a company spokeswoman wrote to Fox News in a statement. ‘Based on that review, we promptly terminated his employment with Solebury.’
Stuckey told Campus Reform she believes Bernstein’s apology was sincere, but only after he had been ‘dragged through the mud.’