Silicon valley dirt flies as sexharassment case heads to. On valentines day in 2007, senior kleiner perkins partner randy komisar gave pao a signed copy of leonard cohens the book of longing, which she took as a. Komisar said he decided to purchase book of longing for pao after. Spins headline, leonard cohens book of longing prompts sexual harassment lawsuit, notwithstanding, the claim by former kleiner perkins partner ellen pao that it was inappropriate of senior partner randy komisar to give her a copy of cohens book of longing is not the crux or, inferring from the more than four year gap between the gift 2 and the filing of the suit, even the immediate precipitant of. Venture firm kleiner moves to dismiss discrimination suit. The smutty poems and pictures that helped get kleiner perkins. Everything you need to know about the ellen pao gender. Paos complaint also alleges that kpcb partner randy komisar gave her a book by leonard cohen, the book of longing, that contained graphic sexual imagery, and invited her to dinner on. That senior partner, randy komisar, says the truth is more prosaic, according. The suit further alleges that for valentines day in 2007, senior partner randy komisar gave pao the book of longing by leonard cohen, with an inscribed note from the colleague. Leonard cohens book of longing prompts sexual harassment lawsuit.
Ellen pao faces heated crossexamination at sexbias trial. Komisar only gave pao the book of longing after she gave him a book and a buddha statue as holiday gifts following discussions the two had about buddhism, kleiner argued. In early 2007, a kleiner partner, randy komisar, gave pao a copy of the book of longing, a collection of poems and drawings by leonard cohen. Paos suit described as containing sexual drawings and poetry. Ellen pao gender discrimination trial grips silicon valley. Komisar said he decided to purchase book of longing for pao after hearing cohen speak about his experience writing it in a buddhist monastery in an interview on npr. Pao a copy of leonard cohens the book of longing, a book ms. Senior partner randy komisar s gift of the book of longing and dinner invitation. Komisar s buddhism, and she gave him a statue of buddha as a holiday gift, the papers say. At kleiner perkins trial, randy komisar accuses ellen pao of vox.
At kleiner perkins trial, randy komisar accuses ellen pao. Randy komisar, a partner at kleiner perkins, said as much in a july 2010 interview posted on youtube. Pao, who is 42 and began work with kleiner in 2005, says in the suit that one senior partner, randy komisar, gave her a copy of book of longing. Randy komisar has put together a precious collection of thoughts and examples of the importance of living inside your passions, not simply waiting for retirement to do the things you are passionate about. In one incident that achieved a viral popularity in news accounts of ms. The unraveling of ellen pao and her husband, buddy fletcher. For valentines day 2007 senior partner randy komisar came into paos office and gave her a book entitled the book of longing by leonard cohen, inscribed with a. Personal trainer course calgary thirsty water jason calacanis podcast. Then, on valentines day in 2007, pao says that she was approached by senior partner randy komisar, who asked her out to dinner saying his wife was out of town and gave her the book of longing. For valentines day one year, senior partner randy komisar presented pao with leonard cohens book of longing.
Komisar s wife chose the cohen book as a return gift. Randy komisar joined kleiner perkins in 2005 and focuses on earlystage investing. Kleiner perkins issues pointbypoint rebuttal to ellen. That senior partner, randy komisar, says the truth is more prosaic, according to the legal papers. Paos attorneys said kleiner perkins partner randy komisar made an unwanted advance toward pao and gave her a gift, the book of longing by leonard cohen which includes sexually themed poems and nude drawings on valentines day 2007.
In an eyepopping account, pao says that on valentines day, in 2007, komisar gave her book of longing, by the canadian musician, poet, and novelist leonard cohen. Leonard cohens book of longing plays a big role in the sex. In court papers, she describes how one partner, randy komisar, gave her a book of poetry by leonard cohen, the book of longing, which she perceived as sexual. The assassination of ellen paos character by the venture. Pao alleged that komisar gave her a copy of the book of longing and. She also said kpcb partner randy komisar gave her a sexually graphic book book of longing by leonard cohen and invited her to dinner while his wife was away. One of these items is singer leonard cohens book of longing, a poetry volume that kleiner perkins senior partner randy komisar gave pao. Komisar is a senior partner at kleiner perkins who pao said once gave her a book of poetry by leonard cohen tiltled the book of longing, which includes some sexual illustrations. Its plausible that pao was sketched out by the gift. Randy komisar on the state of women in venture capital. According to the new york times via the daily swarm, kleiner perkins partner ellen pao claims it was inappropriate of senior partner randy komisar to give her a copy of cohens 2006 book of. Kleiner is putting ellen paos personality on trial wired. Meet all the players in the kleiner sex scandal thats. Leonard cohen wrote the poems in book of longing his first book of poetry in more than twenty years after 1984s book.
On tuesday afternoon, that included randy komisar, a senior partner at. Leonard cohens book of longing prompts sexual harassment. Randy komisar quotes author of the monk and the riddle. At kleiner perkins trial, randy komisar accuses ellen pao of politicking. In another instance, exelrod claimed that on valentines day in 2007 senior kleiner perkins partner randy komisar gave pao a signed copy of leonard cohens the book of longing. In another incident, pao said a married senior partner, randy komisar, gave her a copy of the book of longing by songwriter leonard cohen, which she said contained many sexual drawings, for. Silicon valley venture giant kleiner fires back in. The suit said the book contains many sexual drawings and poems with strong sexual content. Sure, this turns out to be a subjective analysis, but in the. Kleiner partner defends racy valentines day gift ieyenews. The smutty poems and pictures that helped get kleiner.
Kleiner perkins, for better or verse the new york times. Randy komisar pao alleges that senior partner komisar gifted her the book of longing by leonard cohen, a work that contains strong sexual content. Kleiner defense rests its case, showcasing a different. Kleiner confirmed that another partner, randy komisar, gave pao a copy of leonard cohens the book of longing, a book paos suit described as containing sexual drawings and poetry. Kleiner perkins partner gave ellen pao a book of sexual poetry. Reddit ceo ellen pao loses gender bias case against. Venture capitalist ellen pao is suing her employer, kleiner perkins, for gender discrimination and retaliation following alleged incidents of sexual harassment stretching back five years. Key details of the kleiner perkins gender discrimination.
One piece of supporting evidence pao has offered is a book that kleiner perkins partner randy komisar gave her as a gift. An inappropriate conversation between male partners on a private plane. The book, the buddha and the board game pao has testified that she felt a gift in 2007 from komisar, the book of longing by leonard cohen which includes sexual poetry and sketches of female. He decided on leonard cohens book of longing after hearing a snippet on npr that alluded to it being a buddhistthemed book, komisar testified, saying he and pao had a common interest in. Sexual harassment suit reveals gasp eroticism in leonard. Komisar asked his wife, a cohen fan, to buy a copy of the book so he could give it. Pao also claimed that senior partner randy komisar gave her a book of erotic poetry, leonard cohens the book of longing, for a. Kleiner confirmed that another partner, randy komisar, gave ms. I too struggle with this, as most of us do,and this book helps define the risks of not. Leonard cohen s book of longing, which features erotic poetry and. A book of poetry that contained what some might consider not safe. Paos attorneys said kleiner perkins partner randy komisar made an unwanted advance toward pao and gave her a gift, the book of longing by leonard cohen which includes sexually themed poems. On the witness stand on tuesday, however, randy komisar provided a. Paos suit, she accused randy komisar, a senior kleiner partner, of giving her a copy of leonard cohen s the book of longing.
Kleiner perkins hit with sexual harassment allegations. For valentines day 2007 senior partner randy komisar came into paos office and gave her a book entitled the book of longing by leonard cohen, inscribed with a handwritten note from. Paos first claim, tabled in 2007, also accused senior partner randy komisar of giving her a leonard cohen book, book of longing, filled with sexually explicit drawings and poems. Randy komisar to give her a copy of cohens 2006 book of longing. Kleiner perkins partner gave ellen pao a book of sexual. There are not enough women in venture capital today. Pao, who is 42 and began work with kleiner in 2005, says in the suit that one senior partner, randy komisar, gave her a copy of book of longing and. Senior partner randy komisar gives pao a book of erotic poetry, the book of longing, by leonard cohen on valentines day. He wrote the book of longing while on a fiveyear retreat at a zen monastery in southern california. He wrote the book of longing while on a fiveyear retreat at a zen. According to kleiner, pao had specifically asked to have. In early 2007, a kleiner partner, randy komisar, gave pao a copy of the book of longing, a collection of poems and drawings by. Ellen pao trial testimony returns to that plane ride. Venture firm fires back in discrimination case the new.