Neil D. Tyson was investigated by Fox and Nat
Geo for sexual misconduct, the investigation complete Cosmos and Star Talk will return to the air. This investigation would always have been of limited scope and shows at least he is no Harvey Weinstein or Bill Ayers. A completed investigation by Fox and Nat
Geo is not a trial nor does it have to be. The questions before a corporate investigator are not those that would be in front of a court of civil or criminal law. Their question is, did Dr. Tyson do anything which could bring liability upon the company? If not, then they are in the clear. Corporate investigators job is to protect the company from liability and, as a byproduct, create working environments which are not hostile. This is the statement given to Variety.
“‘StarTalk’ will return to the air
with the remaining 13 episodes in April on National Geographic, and both Fox
and National Geographic are committed to finding an air date for ‘Cosmos,'” the
network said in a statement. “There will be no further comment.”
Well that clears things right up, end sarcasm.
What Might That Mean Between The Lines
As
a long-time observer of this story, and one who knows a bit about corporate
policy making, this is my analysis and opinion.
Does this statement mean he didn’t do any of what he was
accused of? No. This may mean that he didn’t
do anything in the workplace itself that the investigation was able to
substantiate within its mandate.
Investigators working for Fox and Nat Geo would only be
concerned with that which took place during his work for the corporation and/or
on its property. None of the allegations were that he did anything during
work hours while filming Cosmos or taping Star Talk. Let us review them
briefly.
The
allegations by Tchiya Amet are for acts that took place in the 1980’s. If
true would’ve been at his apartment while a student at UT Austin. Corporate
investigators at Fox and Nat Geo would not be interested in that. For this
would be up to investigators in Texas where rape has no statute of limitations.
Stranger things have happened than someone being prosecuted for this sort of
thing after decades past.
The
allegation by Dr Katelyn Allers (as reported by David G McAfeee of Patheos)
is about actions he was caught on camera taking but not on any property of Fox
or Nat Geo and not while doing anything connected to them. So that would not
be of concern to them.
The one allegation that perhaps had the attention of Fox and
Nat Geo investigators are those made
by Ashely Watson (As reported by Azeen Ghorayshi of Buzzfeed) . The
allegation where Tyson invited the young lady to his apartment and allegedly
spoke of how people need… “releases”. * Even if 100% true he didn’t force
her to go to his apartment, he didn’t do anything while on set or on Fox
property, he waited until the filming was done to make a move. IF what Ms
Watson said is true Dr Tyson may have held out the possibility of further work
with the implication that release would secure said work. That is a
transaction that is known to be common in entertainment, as in the fabled
casting couch. That may be creepy but if a tv studio punished every star that
did that they’d not have any left.
In short, investigation complete does not mean innocent. It
probably just means that Dr. Tyson didn’t expose Fox and Nat Geo
to any liability. That would be the only real concern of a corporate
investigator.
For their purposes, Fox and Nat Geo can go ahead and make
money off his entertainment products.
Of course, a fuller statement by Fox and Nat Geo would answer
these questions. Maybe they did look further afield. Maybe they did find some
exculpatory evidence. I’d love to hear of it. The brevity and terseness of the
statement makes me think they did no such thing.
This IS A Good Sign For Neil D. Tyson.
This statement means he is not another Harvey Weinstein or
Bill Ayers at the very least. It is an arrow pointing in the direction of his innocence.
Having his shows back on the air, is a way for him to get
more good press. Over time this issue will fade from consciousness. However,
so did the allegations against Michael Jackson and R. Kelly.
For now, at least, this is an issue that will have to be at rest until new
information is found. As a nation of laws, we don’t shun people because of
allegations that have not been proven. As a nation of laws, we investigate,
we file lawsuits if we can, we go to court and live with the outcome. If we
can’t go to court, we live with the, and we move on.
For now, at least, while I feel great sympathy for Tchiya
Amet, Ashely Watson and Dr Katelyn Allers I for one will watch the next season
of Cosmos. Until proven guilty we treat people as though they are innocent.
Such is the American way.
An interesting take from Adam Conover.
Tyson said he would welcome an "impartial investigation." This should go without saying, but an investigation conducted by a party with a financial stake in the outcome (for example, the accused's TV network) cannot, by definition, be "impartial." https://t.co/fTr0vaIu23
— Adam Conover (@adamconover) March 16, 2019
*That is the way an astrophysicist would say it though isn’t it. Like it’s a
supernova or something.
