NY Mets GM Firing: Twitter Reacts To Jared Porter's Explicit Text Messages
The New York Mets fired general manager Jared Porter on Tuesday morning just hours after an ESPN report detailed his harassment of a female reporter in 2016. The story quickly became the top subject on social media, describing the unsolicited and sexually explicit text messages Porter sent when he was a member of the Chicago Cubs’ front office.
Porter reportedly met the woman, a foreign journalist covering MLB, in a Yankee Stadium elevator in June 2016. He would later send her inappropriate text messages, including a picture of an erect penis.
The photo was sent after the reporter ignored 62 consecutive texts from Porter, a fact that much of social media had difficulty understanding.
I still can’t get over 62 unanswered text messages. How? That’s so many past the creep line it’s in another dimension
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) January 19, 2021
Anyone who is even REMOTELY trying to justify 62 (SIXTY TWO!) ignored texts and an unsolicited dick pic should take a loooooongggggg look in the mirror. It's unbelievably creepy... and that's putting it lightly.
— Kayce Smith (@KayceSmith) January 19, 2021
The fact someone can be this unhinged (62 texts!) but normal enough publicly to become a GM is insane. https://t.co/EEItX9PAcr pic.twitter.com/4VGEaR5Ri9
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) January 19, 2021
ESPN first saw the text messages three years ago but didn’t publish a story because the reporter thought doing so might harm her career. The woman has since left journalism and returned to her home country, where she fears backlash if her identity were ever to be revealed.
“I know in the U.S., there is a women's empowerment movement. But in [my home country], it’s still far behind,” the woman told ESPN. “Women get dragged through the mud if your name is associated with any type of sexual scandal. Women are the ones who get fingers pointed at them. I don't want to go through the victimization process again. I don’t want other people to blame me.”
This Jared Porter story is so depressing, gross, and common. Bet there are a lot of guys in sports getting very nervous reading a story about a man who wouldn’t stop sending explicit messages despite being ignored for sixty previous texts https://t.co/2CuwnxPzgK
— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) January 19, 2021
You know why so many women feel passionate about stories like this? It’s because many - a lot - of us have experienced sexual harassment or assault in the workplace. If you speak out about it, you’re the problem.
— Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_TV) January 19, 2021
When Jared Porter got hired, many, many people lauded the move for his character and integrity. Let this be a lesson. Character is not defined by who confirms trade rumors or answers your calls.
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) January 19, 2021
Good for Steve Cohen quickly firing Jared Porter, but now front offices, scouting departments, et al all across the sports world now need to do the following:
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) January 19, 2021
Evaluate the people you employ.
Listen to women.
Believe women.
Harbor safer environments for women.
Be better.
At the time of Porter's hiring, the Mets were largely lauded for the move.
Porter, 41, was previously married but divorced in 2014.
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