A former marketing executive for TikTok is alleging that she was fired as a result of she did not reveal “the docility and meekness particularly required of feminine workers.”
Katie Riccio Puris, who was let go final 12 months from her position as TikTok’s head of worldwide model and artistic, filed a discrimination suit against the ByteDance-owned social media platform in Manhattan federal courtroom on Thursday.
Puris, a Lengthy Island resident, alleged that the corporate subjected her to criticism that her male colleagues have been spared from and that it did not correctly tackle a sexual harassment allegation.
“At each step, Ms. Puris reported the discriminatory remedy and sexual harassment she confronted — to her managers, Human Sources and Worker Relations — and the Firm, taking its directives from the workplace in China, did not take any corrective motion,” it was alleged within the criticism.
Puris, whose resume contains stints as a advertising government at Google and Meta-owned Fb, was employed by TikTok in 2019 to go its North American enterprise advertising division.
Regardless of receiving glowing efficiency evaluations from her superiors after becoming a member of TikTok, issues started to alter after Lidong Zhang, the chairman of Chinese language-based dad or mum firm ByteDance, started to say extra management over the social media platform’s day-to-day operations, the lawsuit alleged.
Puris alleged within the lawsuit that Zhang was “displeased with the best way” she “led her displays” as a result of “she celebrated her group’s successes and achievements, which he felt was inappropriate as a result of he believes that girls ought to all the time stay humble and categorical modesty.”
“Basically, Lidong Zhang believes ladies ought to be quiet,” it was alleged within the lawsuit.
Puris alleged within the lawsuit that Zhang declined to criticize male leaders “for not being humble sufficient.” She claimed that she was “by no means permitted to current or communicate in” bi-monthly conferences that are supposed to map out the corporate’s methods and observe achievements.
The lawsuit additionally alleged that ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming expressed a choice for hiring youthful workers even when they have been much less skilled.
Puris alleged within the lawsuit that the corporate’s “996” tradition which required employees to be within the workplace between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. six days every week discriminated in opposition to older workers since their youthful counterparts “have been much less prone to have childcare and different household obligations outdoors of labor.”
The strain to show herself to ByteDance administration ultimately led to a deterioration in Puris’ well being as she began to endure from ulcers, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome, it was alleged within the lawsuit.
In June 2022, Puris alleged that Christian Lee, an government for the promoting company Zenith, “turned more and more intoxicated” at a dinner on the Cannes Lions in France.
Lee “moved to take a seat subsequent to Puris in such a method that he blocked her from shifting away from him,” it was alleged within the lawsuit.
He then was “slurring his speech” and “spilled a whole glass of wine on Ms. Puris’ plate” earlier than he began “repeatedly touching” her arm and asking her “the place to social gathering after dinner and the place they may go dancing,” the lawsuit alleged.
Finally, one other TikTok worker joined the dinner and led Puris outdoors to get her away from Lee.
When Puris introduced up the incident to her superiors, she was “disillusioned” that “the ethics group has not taken my issues severely.”
Puris alleged within the lawsuit that after she complained in regards to the firm’s inaction, she was fired.
The Put up has sought remark from TikTok and Zenith.
