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Tinder Sued: Co-Founder Suspended Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

By    |   Tuesday, 01 July 2014 01:18 PM EDT

Tinder co-founder Justin Mateen has been suspended after former marketing vice president Whitney Wolfe sued the company this week for sexual harassment and discrimination.

According to USA Today, the suit, filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, lists a number of accusations against Mateen as well as CEO Sean Rad that reportedly happened over 18 months starting in late 2012. Among the accusations, Wolfe alleged that Mateen told her having a "24-year-old-girl" as an exec made the dating-app company "seem like a joke," and stripped her of her co-founder title.

She also accused Mateen of calling her a "whore" in front of Rad. After complaining, she said she was forced out of the company and fired by Rad. Another part of the complaint stated that Tinder's corporate environment embodied "the worst of the misogynist, alpha-male stereotype too often associated with technology startups," according to BuzzFeed.

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"I had hoped this would be resolved confidentially, but after months of failed attempts, I have decided to pursue this suit," said Wolfe.

"Immediately upon receipt of the allegations contained in Ms. Wolfe's complaint, Mr. Mateen was suspended pending an ongoing internal investigation," Tinder's parent company IAC said on Monday. "Through that process, it has become clear that Mr. Mateen sent private messages to Ms. Wolfe containing inappropriate content. We unequivocally condemn these messages, but believe that Ms. Wolfe's allegations with respect to Tinder and its management are unfounded."

Mateen is also noted to have allegedly chastised Wolfe for talking to Muslim men in Aspen while on a family vacation.

Compensatory damages, including restitution, lost pay, and punitive damages, are requested in the complaint.

Tinder is a location-based dating app where users who have shown mutual interest in one another can chat and arrange dates and meetings.

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TheWire
Tinder co-founder Justin Mateen has been suspended after former marketing vice president Whitney Wolfe sued the company this week for sexual harassment and discrimination.
tinder, sued, sexual, harassment
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2014-18-01
Tuesday, 01 July 2014 01:18 PM
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