Time’s Up Leader Slammed Amid Resignation After Facing Backlash For Aiding Andrew Cuomo

Time’s Up co-founder Roberta Kaplan resigned from the organization Monday amid backlash for aiding New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2020 when he faced sexual harassment allegations.

Time’s Up, which was founded in January 2018, is a charity that raises money for sexual harassment victims.

“Robbie Kaplan, board co-chair, has stepped down from the board. We and she agree that is the right and appropriate thing to do,” the group said in a statement.

Time’s Up went on to become a trending topic on Twitter, with people slamming Kaplan and the organization for putting politics above sexual abuse survivors.

“Time’s up for @kaplanrobbie and @TIMESUPNOW Shame on everyone involved - deep down, you should have known better. Power, greed, and pride all got in your way. Just like the abusers,” one user posted.

Another tweet criticized the organization for not remaining dedicated to its mission to help survivors.

“It is so disappointing (to say the least), to see an organization (TIME'S UP) that was meant to stand behind and fight for those harmed by harassment utterly fail to follow through on their commitments and ultimately fail survivors,” one user posted.

In a statement, Time’s Up acknowledged its broken relationship with survivors it had vowed to help.

“We’ve worked to hold power accountable in board rooms, in the halls of government, and in organizations big and small, and we have felt uniquely capable of doing so because many of us have worked in those very institutions,” the organization said in a statement.

“Yet, we recognize that this work has sometimes resulted in a lack of trust from the broader survivor community we serve and to which we also belong. We are looking within.”

Kaplan’s resignation comes a day after one of Cuomo’s top aides, Melissa DeRosa, resigned from her position. In a statement, DeRosa referred to the past two years as “emotionally and mentally trying.”

DeRosa resigned a week after New York State Attorney General Letitia James released the report of her investigation into the sexual harassment allegations made against Cuomo.

The investigation claimed DeRosa helped Cuomo retaliate against accuser Lindsey Boylan.