Employee Alleged Harassment Case - Chad Kelly

[Rich]

I agree Paul - obviously the CFL review found something pretty serious in their review to warrant a 9 game suspension etc. And Kelly has shown immaturity and bad judgement on more than one occasion. I think Argos should cut ties with him and also the CFL.

I disagree. Let him pay his dues and return a better person. Everyone loves a redemption story.

[kellynjk]

I disagree. Let him pay his dues and return a better person. Everyone loves a redemption story.

Well Kelly doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes as his past behaviour proves. The man is almost 30 years old and obviously very immature. I think he will just continue to be a headache for Argos if he stays and they don't need that. As an Argo fan, I would like to see the organization distance themselves from him as I don't want him as the face of the Argos and don't think he represents the team in a positive way.

[OV Argo]

I disagree. Let him pay his dues and return a better person. Everyone loves a redemption story.

I'd be A-ok with that IF he offers a public apology - to the harassed employee and to the Argos and all CFL fans, and admits he needs help and is seeking it.

[Rich]

I'd be A-ok with that IF he offers a public apology - to the harassed employee and to the Argos and all CFL fans, and admits he needs help and is seeking it.

It’s entirely possible he never got the mental health supports he’s needed his whole life. I think he is deserving of some sympathy along with the complainant. Mental health issues can devastate lives. We should all be hoping he gets the help he needs to become a better person.

[ArgoRavi]

It’s entirely possible he never got the mental health supports he’s needed his whole life. I think he is deserving of some sympathy along with the complainant. Mental health issues can devastate lives. We should all be hoping he gets the help he needs to become a better person.

Lots of people, unfortunately, have mental health issues but most do not sexually harass others or engage in gender-based violence. Kelly may indeed have some mental health issues but those are simply no excuse for this kind of behaviour.

I honestly can't see how the Argos can move forward with him. I truly hope that cleaning up this situation is a top priority right now for Keith Pelley. We also need to know who in the organization knew what and when and why nothing was reported to the league.

This off-season has been horrible and damaging to this franchise and, by extension, the league. I am glad that this investigation is over and now the team needs to move forward in a productive manner and demonstrate that these kinds of actions will never occur again and that no employee will ever have to go through what the assistant strength and conditioning coach did. There is an awful lot of damage to repair here.

[paulwoods13]

I disagree. Let him pay his dues and return a better person. Everyone loves a redemption story.

Speaking only for myself, I want no part of this guy on the field or even around the team. Redemption stories are a nice concept in theory, and sometimes they actually happen. But I have no faith in Kelly redeeming himself and becoming a genuinely changed person. I cannot envisage myself in the stands cheering with him at the controls. Maybe time will soften my attitude, but I doubt it.

[kellynjk]

Speaking only for myself, I want no part of this guy on the field or even around the team. Redemption stories are a nice concept in theory, and sometimes they actually happen. But I have no faith in Kelly redeeming himself and becoming a genuinely changed person. I cannot envisage myself in the stands cheering with him at the controls. Maybe time will soften my attitude, but I doubt it.

I feel exactly the same way. I have been a life long Argos fan and I have loved the way that the powers that be have built the organization over the decades and the positive influence they have on the community. I watched TSN at 6 p.m. and Dave Naylor said that the CFL hired an outside expert and gave him all the time he needed. They said there is unequivocal evidence that Kelly violated the league's gender-based violence policy. That is serious and needs to be taken seriously and I think that means the Argos cutting ties with Kelly.

For me personally, I think Kelly's ego, his sense of entitlement, and lack of emotional maturity will not allow him to go through the necessary steps & level of contrition required to be reinstated. With his behaviour I think he has forfeited his right to be part of this great organization.

["Issues"Mcgee]

I feel exactly the same way. I have been a life long Argos fan and I have loved the way that the powers that be have built the organization over the decades and the positive influence they have on the community. I watched TSN at 6 p.m. and Dave Naylor said that the CFL hired an outside expert and gave him all the time he needed. They said there is unequivocal evidence that Kelly violated the league's gender-based violence policy. That is serious and needs to be taken seriously and I think that means the Argos cutting ties with Kelly.

For me personally, I think Kelly's ego, his sense of entitlement, and lack of emotional maturity will not allow him to go through the necessary steps & level of contrition required to be reinstated. With his behaviour I think he has forfeited his right to be part of this great organization.

So all of you believe this happened under Pinball's watch?

[ArgoRavi]

So all of you believe this happened under Pinball's watch?

None of us know what Pinball did or didn't know or when he found out. I assume that the league is looking into all of that right now.

[kellynjk]

So all of you believe this happened under Pinball's watch?

That part doesn't make any sense to me at all - that Pinball was aware of all of this. It seems to go against everything Pinball stands for. Is it possible that this situation got swept under the carpet by some staff members and upper management didn't become aware of it till everything blew up?? If so, you have to wonder if some in the Argos might lose their jobs over this. I have a hard time believing that Pinball or the head honchos at MLSE including Keith Pelley will want anything to do with Chad Kelly after of this. It's a bad look for the Argos and MLSE, not to mention the League.

["Issues"Mcgee]

That part doesn't make any sense to me at all - that Pinball was aware of all of this. It seems to go against everything Pinball stands for. Is it possible that this situation got swept under the carpet by some staff members and upper management didn't become aware of it till everything blew up?? If so, you have to wonder if some in the Argos might lose their jobs over this. I have a hard time believing that Pinball or the head honchos at MLSE including Keith Pelley will want anything to do with Chad Kelly after of this. It's a bad look for the Argos and MLSE, not to mention the League.

Nothing has been proven. You have the CFL declaring from an unnamed source that Kelly had done wrong with no evidence presented.

If Kelly and the Argos and Pinball are all found to comitted foul play in court, then I am all for an appropriate means of punishment.

My question remains though, what happens if the allegations are declared false in court? What happens then?

[kellynjk]

Nothing has been proven. You have the CFL declaring from an unnamed source that Kelly had done wrong with no evidence presented.

If Kelly and the Argos and Pinball are all found to comitted foul play in court, then I am all for an appropriate means of punishment.

My question remains though, what happens if the allegations are declared false in court? What happens then?

Well the CFL would not have taken the action they have without some pretty solid evidence that Kelly's behaviour was inappropriate. And as other have noted, it would also suggest that others within the Argo organization have substantiated at least part of what the plaintiff claimed happened. No one is saying that Pinball has done anything wrong, at this point it's just curiosity about what he might have know and when and if he took any action.

It's just my opinion but Kelly's suspension by the CFL makes me feel that the court case will also go against him (it sounds like there is good evidence and witnesses to support the plaintiffs claims of harassment etc.). The Argos might not be guilty of "wrongful dismissal" I guess time will tell. I would suggest that it might be in the Argo's best interest to settle with the claimant as the Argos and the League need to put this whole mess behind them.

[bluto]

Nothing has been proven. You have the CFL declaring from an unnamed source that Kelly had done wrong with no evidence presented.

If Kelly and the Argos and Pinball are all found to comitted foul play in court, then I am all for an appropriate means of punishment.

My question remains though, what happens if the allegations are declared false in court? What happens then?

Never happen.

Especially now that the CFL completely hamstrung the Argos/MLSE by curbstomping Kelly.

This gets a settlement and an NDA.

[paulwoods13]

So all of you believe this happened under Pinball's watch?

Pinball is the GM. Manning is the president. Shewfelt is the VP Business Ops. There are others in the mgmt structure. What any of them knew as this was unfolding is one of the big unknowns. If any of them knew and tried to sweep it under the rug, they deserve condemnation, or worse. We just don't know at this point, do we?

[Antwon]

Speaking only for myself, I want no part of this guy on the field or even around the team. Redemption stories are a nice concept in theory, and sometimes they actually happen. But I have no faith in Kelly redeeming himself and becoming a genuinely changed person. I cannot envisage myself in the stands cheering with him at the controls. Maybe time will soften my attitude, but I doubt it.

As disappointing as this whole situation is, for me now it's how Kelly and his agent\lawyer respond. They will have access to the investigation and will have the option to grieve and appeal. If they go hard to appeal this then Kelly will probably NOT be going through the "mandatory counselling and assessments". He also may make more odd or inappropriate social media posts. This may extend his suspension and probably end his CFL career.
On the other hand if he accepts it and does everything required, I would expect him back.

[ArgoRavi]

As disappointing as this whole situation is, for me now it's how Kelly and his agent\lawyer respond. They will have access to the investigation and will have the option to grieve and appeal. If they go hard to appeal this then Kelly will probably NOT be going through the "mandatory counselling and assessments". He also may make more odd or inappropriate social media posts. This may extend his suspension and probably end his CFL career.
On the other hand if he accepts it and does everything required, I would expect him back.

If this were 20 to 30 years ago, then maybe he could come back from this with the Argos and the CFL. In 2024, I just don't think it's possible. Keep in mind that the league is also employing more women than ever before and they and all employees need to feel safe in the workplace.

In any workplace today, if you do what Chad Kelly is alleged to have done - and an investigation appears to support at least some of those allegations - the individual is usually terminated. I have a hard time seeing Kelly being able to come back from this and the Argos would be putting themselves through awful PR if they attempt to continue with him.

[Mocha]

Speaking only for myself, I want no part of this guy on the field or even around the team. Redemption stories are a nice concept in theory, and sometimes they actually happen. But I have no faith in Kelly redeeming himself and becoming a genuinely changed person. I cannot envisage myself in the stands cheering with him at the controls. Maybe time will soften my attitude, but I doubt it.

I'd like to know the exact nature of the threats he allegedly made. If he really threatened violence against an Argo employee, I'd lean toward cutting ties completely.