Ex-employee brings new harassment claim against Washington NFL owner Dan Snyder

Ex-employee brings new harassment¹ claim against Washington NFL owner Dan Snyder

Transcript²

Just as the Washington Football Team rebranded itself as the Washington Commanders, allegations of workplace sexual harassment, including by team owner Dan Snyder, continue to dog the team.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Some other news now. The Washington Commanders triggered plenty of discussion by announcing their new name this week. But the Washington pro³ football team has not entirely⁴ escaped its recent past. Here's NPR's Andrea Hsu.

ANDREA HSU, BYLINE⁵: What was billed as a roundtable on the toxic⁶ work culture at Washington's football team quickly lived up to its name.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

TIFFANI JOHNSTON: This has affected⁷ me more than I originally thought. This is something no woman should be subjected to in the workplace. Certainly, no one should have to fend⁸ off sexual advances from a company's owner.

HSU: Tiffani Johnston, a former cheerleader and marketing⁹ manager who spent eight years with the team, was one of six former employees to bring their accounts of rampant¹⁰ sexual harassment to Capitol Hill. Some of their stories had been told before in The Washington Post, but Johnston brought up a new claim involving longtime team owner Dan Snyder. At a work dinner many years ago, she said, she was asked to sit next to Snyder.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JOHNSTON: Not for me to discuss business but to allow him, Dan Snyder, to place his hand on my thigh¹¹ under the table.

HSU: She removed it, but after dinner, there was more. With his hand now on her lower back, Johnston said, Snyder pushed her aggressively toward his limo, encouraging her to ride with him to her car. He only relented when his lawyer stepped in.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JOHNSTON: And said, Dan, Dan, this is a bad idea, a very bad idea, Dan.

HSU: The following day, she was warned by a senior colleague not to tell anyone about it. In a statement, Snyder called the allegations outright¹² lies, even as he apologized for misconduct within his organization. He said the team has vastly improved its culture. It's not the first allegation of sexual harassment Snyder has faced. The Washington Post reported that the team settled a case in 2009 involving a female former employee for $1.6 million. Snyder admitted no wrongdoing.

Andrea Hsu, NPR News.

1 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

4 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

5 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

6 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

7 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

8 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

9 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

10 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

11 thigh   

n.大腿；股骨

参考例句：

• He is suffering from a strained thigh muscle.他的大腿肌肉拉伤了，疼得很。
• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。

12 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。