Beginning in December 2019, I have been a subject of criticism on twitter. This concerns a complaint that was previously investigated when I was contracted as a programmer at the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2018, and allegations of abuse from my ex-partner. 

The former concerns a vague allegation of harassment which I categorically deny. 

The complaint as it was communicated to me when it was filed in 2018 claimed that I was “acting inappropriately” at a party and made someone “uncomfortable”. My superior at VIFF provided no further detail but insisted that nothing in the complaint alleged anything serious nor anything involving physical touch or inappropriate comments or language, leaving me confused about what the complaint could even concern. VIFF continued to follow their own internal process which was opaque to me but I know involved speaking to others present at the event in question and upon completing this inquiry did not find reason for any action to be taken and I continued to work for them. My contract was later renewed in 2019. I assured VIFF that none of my behaviour had crossed the line but that I was sorry if I had made someone uncomfortable and I wished to reach out to them. However, due to VIFF’s policy, I never received a full description of the complaint nor was I permitted to know the complainant’s identity (or reach out to them in any way); the only detail that was shared was that this person had taken part in our mentorship program. According to a claim made publicly on Twitter by the complainant amidst the social media campaign against me, I had previously admitted fault to VIFF. This is completely false and suggests that communication was mishandled and dishonest on the part of the organization during this process. The complainant turned out to be someone who I had known for several years and had considered us as friends. I was shocked to see the public allegation as it was published in December—the language of which did not correspond with what had been communicated to me by VIFF nor with anything that took place at the event in question.

Regarding allegations from my ex-partner, it is true that we were in a toxic relationship between 2014 and 2016 and that my behaviour could be unhealthy and hurtful. It took me some time to recognize this before I ever took ownership. I sought counselling and I have continued to work on myself through therapy. I have been open and honest about these issues within my community. I have apologized to my ex privately in the past and have made efforts to make amends. Public claims to the contrary are false and I have supporting documentation. I am sorry for the hurt I have caused to her and to a former partner before I recognized, was honest about, and worked on correcting my behaviour. I take the impact of these repercussions seriously and hold myself accountable for my actions. However, none of my behaviour since suggests that this is a continuing pattern and I have demonstrated my character and growth. I do not believe that the campaign against me online has either been merited nor truthful in its framing of my character and the past situations it vaguely and in some cases dishonestly describes. While I accept that my behaviour in relationships in my teenage years and early twenties could take on forms of emotional abuse, all implications and inferences that have been made beyond this are false. My character, personal life, and professional conduct have been misrepresented and conflated on social media. Misinformation has led some to assume the worst. And those assumptions have been openly accepted. These accepted assumptions have unfairly led to undue consequences and also placed various organizations, institutions, peers, and colleagues in difficult positions.

In December 2019, I made the decision to resign from my new role as Senior Programmer of Sheffield Doc/Fest because of the pressure and scrutiny the organization was facing. I do not believe it should have escalated to this stage. Those around me know I am transparent and accountable. Some detractors claimed I would lie if I responded which made it seem futile to say anything at all. As consequences unfolded, I felt defenceless and resigned to silence. As a result of this campaign, the career I worked hard and honestly to earn has been taken from me while others have benefitted and profited. Watching this mobilize so effectively on twitter, setting my life and career on fire in the process, didn’t teach me anything I didn’t already know about social media and our cultural climate but experiencing it firsthand has convinced me that social media is not the place nor format for this conversation. In the future, I hope conversations like these can take place fairly and with nuance.

Lastly, I want to offer my apologies to TIFF and Hot Docs—festivals where I never held a position as programmer—who were dragged into this. I am sorry for this undue pressure. They should not have to answer for past aspects of my private life nor a complaint that was handled internally at another organization.