While Playboy (NYSE: PLA) executives have never been accused of being straight-laced, one might assume they'd be smart enough, oh, to restrain themselves from groping, "bombarding" with sexually-explicit emails, and subsequently firing a lawyer.
But in allegations that (if true) would surely prove the preconception that the porn industry objectifies women, Chicago divorce attorney Corri Fetman filed suit Monday alleging that Thomas Hagopian, an executive in the digital branch of the publishing empire, sexually harassed her, then canceled her column when she rebuffed him. She seeks $4.5 million in damages, including "gender violence."
If this were the 70s, perhaps Hagopian would be claiming that Fetman gave him the wrong impression; after all, she posed nude and wrote a legal advice column, the 'Lawyer of Love.' And Fetman has a colorful history as an attorney; a billboard for her practice featured scantily-clad men and women with the slogan, "Life's Short, Get a Divorce" (it was pulled quickly), and she reportedly left her previous job in 1995 after being sexually harassed by another attorney. A woman with a history of giving off the wrong signals?
In the 21st century, we probably won't stand for this sort of thing, and I predict a quick time to settlement. However, in the court of public opinion (and, frankly, in her own personal marketing), Fetman's enormous breasts have already featured prominently. How can we take her seriously if . . . go the critics.
Playboy does appear to be taking this seriously; Hagopian left the company last year, and while a Playboy spokesperson didn't say why, she
did say "we take these allegations very seriously."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
4-03-2009 @ 6:35AM
dmaher13492 said...
Look at the grin on that old lechers face. Those twins seriously get into bed with that? Ewwwww
4-03-2009 @ 7:02AM
mike said...
o plz hef's life is everymans dream!! he's not forcing them to do anything,they choose to be with him!! if any guy says that they wouldn't want to have lived the life he has there full of shit!!!
4-03-2009 @ 7:25AM
Mark said...
I can't believe the article..... it's PLAYBOY! It's STILL not as "raunchy" as Penthouse or any of the dozens of other "mens" mags out there..... lighten up.
4-03-2009 @ 7:48AM
John Rothenberg said...
Mike is 100% correct.
4-03-2009 @ 8:26AM
eileen said...
All believeable, until you hear she was the "victim" of sexual harassment at her last job!? Is one to be harassed wherever she goes? Oh my. Great way to make a few bucks, and lawyers are so good at sueing......ugh.
4-03-2009 @ 8:46AM
kentdenero said...
women like her make it harder for other women. i have seen them myself in the corporate world, "harlot" one day at work a "madonna" the next. i've seen alot of idiots fall for it. then if you don't give them the attention they plot against you. the other half of the equation is the person listening in h.r. is usually a woman, who usually has her mind made up.
4-03-2009 @ 8:46AM
Jeanette said...
Are you serious? Sexual harrassment and your involved with playboy,lolollol like what did you expect.You woman who do all these nasty things and then cry harrassment ...get over yourselves and get respectable and then talk
4-03-2009 @ 8:52AM
Jeanette said...
I agree with you kent...it gets old ...
and Mike not every guy dreams of whores for mates ....you need to grow up it sounds like....looking good is one thing ...been around the block with every Tom Dick and Harry is just nasty no matter how good you look...
4-03-2009 @ 8:53AM
Angela said...
Playboy is a brand, and I would dare guess it's close to a billion dollar enterprise. You do not become that successful through monkey business in the executive offices of any industry. Of course, this is civil litigation, meaning it will be heard by a panel where jurors can make judicial decisions based on popular opinion about what really happened. The Playboy image lends itself to this type of lawsuit, and the type of business it conducts is enough to make many people believe they must be guilty of sexual misconduct from tip to tail, so to speak.
This woman has two strikes against her: She's a bottom-feeder who preys on opportunities which are easily misrepresented; she has a history of sexually explicit endeavors and filing similar lawsuits. I hope Playboy fights this lawsuit unto its bitter end, and that justice prevails, whichever direction it may take.
4-03-2009 @ 9:02AM
jfromulus said...
TYING UP THE COURTS AT TAXPAYERS EXPENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS PLAYBOY SLUTTY TRAMP ALLREADY MAKES TONS OF MONEY IN A PROFESSION WHERE SHE STRIPS SHE DONT EXPECT LUDE COMMENTS GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4-03-2009 @ 9:15AM
Jeff said...
Is anyone surprised?! DAH! Hello!? It's Playboy. Sue this!
4-03-2009 @ 9:23AM
Lauryn said...
While I'll refrain from commenting on her current situation, it does not say that she sued her previous employer, only that she left. Why is everyone posting assuming that she sued?
4-03-2009 @ 9:15AM
john said...
what a career???? Make sueing for sexual harrassment tops on the money making job oppurtunities list. she is a career lawsuit waiting to happen slut. Get a real job bimbo
4-03-2009 @ 9:16AM
duckhookmaster said...
4-03-2009 @ 8:52AM
Jeanette said...
I agree with you kent...it gets old ...
and Mike not every guy dreams of whores for mates ....you need to grow up it sounds like
.....................sounds like whores are a lot cheaper than attorneys.
4-03-2009 @ 9:19AM
PETER KUHLAMN said...
ANOTHER BIMBO LAWYER JUST TRYING TO MAKE MONEY.
4-03-2009 @ 9:24AM
Hugh said...
Corri Fetman is a skanky whore posing as an attorney. She gives the legal profession a bad name, if that is possible. No, strike that last sentence. She belongs in the legal "profession" along with all the rest of the money grubbing whores.
4-03-2009 @ 9:51AM
JProcks said...
As a natural blonde, it erks me to no end that the majority of Playboy models are bleached brunettes! Ladies, please...if you're going to act like a harlot, keep your natural hair color and leave us "natural" blondes alone! We've had to overcome mountains to gain respect over the years due to your perverted perception of sensuality.
4-04-2009 @ 4:13PM
hoosierbaby64 said...
I am a female and while in my financial state I have to say that yes I would "ponder" sleeping with Hef for money but then I look at big picture and cannot see him being disease free with all the wick dipping that man has done and knowing that those he has had sex with have had more than 5 or 6 partners. So I choose to be poor and disease free. Why take a chance? On a bigger note I have self worth and self esteem so wouldn't do it anyway. I don't think I would feel good with the world looking at me and knowing I sleep around for fame and money. That is just creepy. As a mom I would be mortified and let down if those were my daughters were in that pic. I would seriously question my parenting choices. How do you have a sit down dinner with your daughters knowing they show the world everything they have and flaunt they tag team with each other with an old man such as hef. Just seems creepy.
4-03-2009 @ 10:40AM
Sue said...
My friend and I were talking about satan and god the other day. I said maddoff isnt burning in hell because he is satan. Did his evil doings, now onto the next evil person. Satan is going to make a big splash like maddoff. The other evils in the world are his demons. So she continues to talk about god. mother theresa, ghandi etc. So I say "but they had no money?" shes like yea thats true. Then we start discussing why is it god makes no money and satan makes lots of money. Then we realize that hugh is a very giving man. He's not malicious or nasty like trump. He gave us playboy. He's just an all around nice guy. And he has lots of money. Dont give me the womanizing crap. Every female that gets involved with him ... he is very honest with them from the beginning. I think god gave us HUGH!
BTW im a female.
4-03-2009 @ 10:43AM
cassellwp said...
When you lack competence, use gender. Some equally worthless activist will help you steal money your incapable of earning.
What a lovely "society" we've descended into. Makes one proud.