Employee Alleged Harassment Case - Chad Kelly

[Will]

I've also been told that Chad Kelly is not at the #Argos facility. #CFL https://t.co/QhwVdIwmBD

— David Morassutti (@d_morassutti) May 12, 2024

[Argo57]

I respect Jim Barker for speaking his mind in regards to league employees openly criticizing the Argonauts handling of Chad Kelly, if the roles were reversed you can bet the league would be issuing fines to any team or team employee criticizing the league in a similar manner.

https://3downnation.com/2024/05/13/t...of-chad-kelly/

[ArgoGabe22]

I respect Jim Barker for speaking his mind in regards to league employees openly criticizing the Argonauts handling of Chad Kelly, if the roles were reversed you can bet the league would be issuing fines to any team or team employee criticizing the league in a similar manner.

https://3downnation.com/2024/05/13/t...of-chad-kelly/

He's not wrong but the optics is certainly much different. It would make the league look even worse if they did regarding gender discrimination.

[Argo57]

He's not wrong but the optics is certainly much different. It would make the league look even worse if they did regarding gender discrimination.

The league has issued the suspension which the team has said they will abide by, his point being league employees shouldn’t be commenting beyond that which I think is a fair point.
If the tables were turned and an employee of a team or the team itself openly criticized the league on any policy and/or how they handled a given situation (game fine or supplemental discipline) the league wouldn’t take kindly to that and fines would be issued.

[ArgoGabe22]

The league has issued the suspension which the team has said they will abide by, his point being league employees shouldn’t be commenting beyond that which I think is a fair point.
If the tables were turned and an employee of a team or the team itself openly criticized the league on any policy and/or how they handled a given situation (game fine or supplemental discipline) the league wouldn’t take kindly to that and fines would be issued.

But what would social media think of the league if they chose to discipline female employees for publicly criticizing the league for how they handled an ongoing harassment claim/investigation? No one bats an eye when Barker is getting fined for criticizing the league schedule.

[kellynjk]

Well some of the older men (like Barker) around the league talking about this situation don't seem to appreciate what harassment is. I saw one interview with Barker where he referenced "Kelly maybe asking the woman out a couple of times and does that deserve this kind of suspension?" And while Barker is certainly entitled to his own opinion, I don't think those kind of statements help and seem to support the impression that many have that too many people in and the around the CFL are out of touch!!

[gilthethrill]

I respect Jim Barker for speaking his mind in regards to league employees openly criticizing the Argonauts handling of Chad Kelly, if the roles were reversed you can bet the league would be issuing fines to any team or team employee criticizing the league in a similar manner.

https://3downnation.com/2024/05/13/t...of-chad-kelly/

I totally agree.

[1971GreyCup]

Well some of the older men (like Barker) around the league talking about this situation don't seem to appreciate what harassment is. I saw one interview with Barker where he referenced "Kelly maybe asking the woman out a couple of times and does that deserve this kind of suspension?" And while Barker is certainly entitled to his own opinion, I don't think those kind of statements help and seem to support the impression that many have that too many people in and the around the CFL are out of touch!!

Now we can add blatant ageism to cancel culture.

[1971GreyCup]

This is the 4th case involving diversity, equity & inclusion that I have been made aware of under the current CFL office. The three previous cases, privately, ended badly for the individuals involved and IMO the league ended up worse off.

I suggest that it may soon be time to turn the page on the league’s senior management.

Let’s see how this “public” case ends up.

[Argo57]

Now we can add blatant ageism to cancel culture.

The response is typical, totally missed the point of Barker’s comments not surprisingly.
Quite often the people espousing inclusion and tolerance are anything but, put forth perfectly rational viewpoint that doesn’t fall in line and the personal attacks start.
Standard issue stuff these days unfortunately.

[Mulder]

The one lesson learned (also as Director) is never to make decisions until one has read the entire report and had lawyers give their opinion and answered any questions. So what do we, the average fan, know, not surmise but know.

Much more may come out in time especially if the case goes to court. It does appear, based on the little we know, that Kelly did act in a very inappropriate manner Kelly's future with the team seems to be very uncertain at this time.

I suspect the whole situation is not nearly as straightforward as many of the social media warriors think it is. If it was, I believe the Argos & Management would have already done the obvious thing(s) regardless of Kelly's status of MOP, and anyone else involved. The CFL may have even been more harsh with their sanctions.

I have tons of criticism for fans of the league on social media surrounding this from the very start. From people wanting instant justice, not understanding the differences between a Civil and criminal cases, over-exaggerating the original claims and even their unwarranted criticism of Pinball because he didn't give the social media mob want they wanted.

I think it was pretty clear the Argos and Kelly hadn't even been served yet since it was reported the day after the suit was filed. People were calling for action.
People not understanding that a Civil case isn't necessarily a full statement of facts, and the claims are often 'beefed up' with in many ways.

I think it's pretty clear there are some major nuance details to the case that have not been made public, (as alluded to by some members of the Argos) and that's why Kelly and even Murphy are still with the Org.

I think Pinball gave 1 significant detail that everyone missed in press conference in how he choose his wording and tone.

[kellynjk]

The response is typical, totally missed the point of Barker’s comments not surprisingly.
Quite often the people espousing inclusion and tolerance are anything but, put forth perfectly rational viewpoint that doesn’t fall in line and the personal attacks start.
Standard issue stuff these days unfortunately.

No both you and GreyCup1971 missed the point I was making. And I'm certainly not suggesting that Jim Barker be cancelled. And it's not ageism to suggest that people can be better informed about what harassment is? What I was saying was having someone harass you at the place you work for 2 years, is not the same thing as a "guy asking you a couple of times". Many of the other points Barker made I agreed with, including that more details of exactly what happened need to be known. BTW having a difference of opinion with someone doesn't make you intolerant.

[OV Argo]

No both you and GreyCup1971 missed the point I was making. And I'm certainly not suggesting that Jim Barker be cancelled. And it's not ageism to suggest that people can be better informed about what harassment is? What I was saying was having someone harass you at the place you work for 2 years, is not the same thing as a "guy asking you a couple of times". Many of the other points Barker made I agreed with, including that more details of exactly what happened need to be known. BTW having a difference of opinion with someone doesn't make you intolerant.

Well said !

Barker is entitled to his opinions. I've heard more than enough from him in the CFL, he's been getting to have his say for a long time. Wish he would go away.

[Argo57]

No both you and GreyCup1971 missed the point I was making. And I'm certainly not suggesting that Jim Barker be cancelled. And it's not ageism to suggest that people can be better informed about what harassment is? What I was saying was having someone harass you at the place you work for 2 years, is not the same thing as a "guy asking you a couple of times". Many of the other points Barker made I agreed with, including that more details of exactly what happened need to be known. BTW having a difference of opinion with someone doesn't make you intolerant.

Not arguing the details of this case and don’t need the explanation regarding harassment, any decent human being knows right from wrong.
Where I’m agreeing with Barker is the league’s hypocrisy in letting an employee publicly denounce an organization’s handling of the Kelly situation, I’ll say it again if the tables were turned and a team official berated the league or a league officials over an issue fines would be issued.

[Rich]

Well some of the older men (like Barker) around the league talking about this situation don't seem to appreciate what harassment is.

Also, there are people old and young alike who don’t seem to appreciate the importance of due process and avoiding a rush to judgement.

[Argo57]

Also, there are people old and young alike who don’t seem to appreciate the importance of due process and avoiding a rush to judgement.

100% agree with you Rich!

[bluto]

also, there are people old and young alike who don’t seem to appreciate the importance of due process and avoiding a rush to judgement.

qft

[kellynjk]

Also, there are people old and young alike who don’t seem to appreciate the importance of due process and avoiding a rush to judgement.

Certainly we have to wait for the civil suit to be heard to know what will happen, but the CFL investigation of the situation is a separate thing, it has been completed and they determined that Kelly violated the League's Gender-Based Policy.

[Will]

Kelly has been moved to the suspended list. Dave Naylor suggests that this isn't as a result of a team suspension.

[paulwoods13]

From Argos media relation: "Revised transaction: QB Chad Kelly has not been moved to suspended list. Remains away from team."

Hard to know how to interpret this. Not suspended, yet not with the team? Might have just been a clerical error somewhere along the line, but this will undoubtedly lead to more ridicule from around the league.