Kelly Stonelake’s Lawsuit Against Meta: Allegations of Harassment and Discrimination

Kelly Stonelake, a previous director at Meta, has initiated legal action against the organisation, citing allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. This lawsuit, referenced by TechCrunch, was lodged in the state of Washington. The document asserts that Stonelake faced gender-based harassment and discrimination over the course of her 15-year career at Meta, formerly known as Facebook. Stonelake contends that Meta neglected to act on her reports of sexual harassment and claims she was retaliated against after reporting a video game as both racist and unsuitable for minors. Additionally, she suggests that she was repeatedly bypassed for promotions in favour of her male peers.

Having been laid off in January 2024, Stonelake was on an extended medical leave due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which she links to the discriminatory culture at Meta. Current medical treatment is ongoing, as outlined in the submission made to King County Superior Court. Meta has refrained from commenting on the lawsuit, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.

Details of the Harassment and Retaliation Claims

The lawsuit outlines specific instances of harassment and retaliation, beginning with an incident at a company gathering in 2009, where a colleague reportedly touched Stonelake inappropriately. Stonelake hesitated to report this incident, worried about the lack of response. In 2011, her manager allegedly attempted to pressure her into a sexual relationship, implying that this was essential for her career advancement. After declining, Stonelake alleges that she was consistently denied promotions, with no consequences imposed on her manager. Even after her transfer to Meta’s Seattle office in 2012 and subsequent promotion to director in 2017, the alleged discrimination persisted.

Confrontation During the 2020 Protests

During the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, Stonelake confronted her manager for displaying a Blue Lives Matter symbol on his Facebook profile, viewing it as a response to the BLM movement. Although she reported his racially charged remarks to HR, she asserts that no action followed. Stonelake further claims to have been overlooked for promotions while her male counterparts progressed in their careers.

Concerns Raised About Safety in Reality Labs

In 2022, Stonelake transitioned to Meta’s Reality Labs to lead marketing efforts for Horizon Worlds, a virtual reality social platform. Within this role, she raised alarms regarding safety and content moderation practices, specifically noting that Black avatars encountered racial slurs during internal evaluations. After bringing these issues to light, Stonelake alleges that she was sidelined from important meetings and denied another promotion in January 2023. Following this period, she needed to take emergency medical leave for PTSD and suicidal thoughts, subsequently being laid off amid company-wide job reductions.

In reflecting on her experiences at Meta, Stonelake conveyed her disillusionment, mentioning that she once had faith in Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for a connected society. She questioned the authenticity of positive interactions, such as Zuckerberg’s involvement in San Francisco Pride and his commencement address at Harvard. Stonelake remarked that as she rose through the ranks, she noticed a growing intolerance for dissent among senior male colleagues.