Suit Spotlights Sex Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation at Fast Growing Technology Start-Up

Los Angeles. Whitney Wolfe, called “the woman who invented Tinder” by Harper’s Bazaar, filed a lawsuit today against the company she helped launch, which hosts the phenomenally popular mobile dating app. The suit accuses Tinder’s top executives of sex discrimination and harassment against Wolfe and of forcing her out of the tech company when she complained. Tinder’s parent companies, IAC and Match.com, are also named as defendants and are accused of ignoring the discrimination and harassment at Tinder.

According to the lawsuit, Tinder Chief Marketing Officer and Co‐Founder Justin Mateen, stripped Wolfe of her Co-Founder title, telling her that describing a “24‐year old girl” as a Co-Founder makes the company “seem like a joke” and “devalues” the company. CEO Sean Rad threatened to fire Wolfe if she did not go along with the change. Ironically, Wolfe dramatically boosted Tinder’s popularity by focusing on the app’s appeal to women.

Mateen, who was Wolfe’s boss and had a short-lived romantic relationship with her, subjected Wolfe to a barrage of harassing text messages and sexist insults after the relationship ended, the lawsuit asserts, including calling her a “whore” in front of CEO Rad at a company event. Mateen also sent sexist and racist texts to Wolfe, referring to one woman as a “liberal lying slut,” and describing other individuals as “Muslim pigs.”

When Wolfe protested to CEO Rad, he dismissed her as “annoying” and “dramatic.” After Wolfe complained that she could no longer tolerate Mateen’s abusive behavior, CEO Rad texted her that her continuing to work at Tinder was “likely no longer an option” and coached her to write phony resignation letters. Wolfe reported the harassment and retaliation to Match.com CEO Sam Yagan, who was also dismissive and refused to act.

Wolfe, who developed Tinder’s initial marketing launch, led its successful international outreach and was the face of the company in numerous publications, including Elle, Marie Claire and the Wire.com, explained, “I worked hard and rightfully earned my stake in the company. I was stripped of my job, Co-Founder title and equity. This case is about being forced out of a company I helped build because I would no longer tolerate the gender discrimination and harassment. I had hoped this would be resolved confidentially, but after months of failed attempts, I have decided to pursue this suit.” Tinder Co-Founder Chris Gulczynski stated: “It’s just really disappointing that Tinder treated Whitney so shabbily given her major role in its success.” Co-Founder Joe Munoz added, “I credit Whitney 100% with the growth of Tinder.”

“Women leaders at technology companies deserve to be treated respectfully and have their contributions recognized, not abused and shown the door when they complain about harassment in the workplace,” said David Lowe, an attorney at Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe, and one of the lawyers representing Wolfe.

“IAC and Match.com, which own Tinder, allowed this culture to exist and did nothing to prevent the discrimination or harassment. IAC and Match.com need to be held responsible for their failure to supervise the executives at Tinder. There really was no ‘adult in the room,’” Lowe added.

“Whitney Wolfe ultimately lost her job simply for refusing to take the abuse any longer,” added John Mullan, a partner of the same firm representing Wolfe. “It is not only reprehensible that an alpha male culture characterized by obnoxious attitudes about women exists at a company which markets a dating app to young women, it is also illegal.” Mullan added.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeks damages for lost wages and stock options, emotional distress damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees and costs.

Click here for a copy of the Complaint.

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