It is another one of those moments, brought to us by Netflix, where a docuseries takes over the cultural zeitgeist. It seems like every water cooler conversation and internet meme is focused on Sean Combs: The Reckoning. This series, produced by 50 Cent, is more than an exposé. It’s a modeled behavior for leadership, ethics, and accountability in the face of systemic failure. Yes, the series centers on the music industry but its lessons resonate across every professional space, including tech, where harassment and abuse remain pervasive and under-addressed.
Silence protects power
50 Cent’s decision to speak out wasn’t about pettiness. It is about accountability and a refusal to normalize harm. He shared, “If I didn’t say anything, you would interpret it as hip-hop is fine with his behaviors.” In our personal lives and all corporate environments our silence during ethical crises signals complicity. Failing to challenge misconduct reinforces the culture that normalizes harm.
Language can dismiss or empower
Social reactions to the documentary prove this point: by calling 50 Cent “petty.” This is incredibly dangerous as it reframes speaking out for accountability as immaturity. That language matters. Labelling men who challenge abuse as vindictive or attention-seeking sends a message to everyone, including survivors, that silence is safer than speaking up.
This isn’t harmless internet memes and jokes. It empowers abusers. Words shape our cultural norms. When accountability is mocked unfortunately misconduct continues to thrive. Leaders must model language that validates truth-telling and condemns harm, not language that trivializes it.
How media frames these situations heavily influences public perception and our subsequent policies. It is frustrating but true that research shows how media framing favors perpetrators, sensationalizes crimes, and shows skepticism toward survivors. This normalizes harm and delays cultural change. Our poorly chosen words reinforce stereotypes. I highly recommend the media guide on reporting sexual violence to help identify this language before you unintentionally use it with others. This isn’t just about how media talks, it is what we pick up and repeat in conversations with each other.
As someone who has experienced sexual harassment and assault at tech conferences, I’ve heard replies from other men like: “I can’t imagine he would do that,” “You must have misunderstood,” or “He’s always been nice to me.” These responses aren’t neutral. These responses dismiss and invalidate a survivor’s experience. These comments echo the same cultural script that media perpetuates: doubt the survivor, protect the perpetrator. When these comments surface, they reinforce a culture of silence that isolates survivors.
Sexual violence is more prevalent than you think
The numbers are staggering:
– 81% of women and 43% of men report experiencing sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime
– 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men have faced sexual harassment in the workplace
– Nearly 98% of perpetrators are never held accountable through the criminal justice system. That is only 25 perpetrators incarcerated per 1,000 sexual assaults
-Harassment in tech is often described as “ingrained in industry culture,” with frequent reports of lewd comments, unwanted physical contact, and severe harassment or sexual coercion
Accountability cannot be optional. When legal systems fail, the cultural and organizational responses become critical. We may be the “best community in tech” but we still have a lot of room for change.
Abuse impacts more than survivors
Research links workplace sexual harassment and assault to anxiety, depression, PTSD, burnout, and even cardiovascular issues. Survivors can experience chronic insomnia, panic attacks, and diminished confidence, leading to turnover and lost productivity (Newcomb Institute). This isn’t only a personal tragedy. It’s an organizational crisis impacting some of your top performers.
Male accountability changes the game
We have a huge problem to solve: 90% of harassment survivors never file a formal complaint. Bystander intervention programs reduce sexual violence and harassment by up to 50% (CDC). Why does this matter? Men still hold most leadership positions. When men call out other men, it disrupts the silence that enables abuse.
I’ve confided in male peers about harassment and heard responses like, “I don’t want to get involved,” or “I avoid conflict.” Every time a peer steps back instead of stepping up, the message is repeated that silence is safer than action.
If you’re someone others trust, your discomfort is not more important than someone else’s safety. Speak up and challenge harmful behavior. Organizations with strong male allyship see higher reporting rates, lower harassment prevalence, and better retention of women in leadership roles. If the data proves allyship works, why stay silent?
My call to action to the community
As a member of our community, ask yourself:
– Do I challenge harmful behavior even when it’s uncomfortable?
– Do I speak up or stay silent when I hear a sexist joke or dismissive comment?
– Do I use my influence to create safer environments when I see power imbalances?
– Do I check in with peers when I notice harmful dynamics instead of ignoring them?
– Do I know the reporting options in our community, and have I shared them with others? Do I advocate for clear codes of conduct and visible reporting channels when involved in event or conference planning?
– Do I use language that trivializes accountability (ex: calling someone “petty” for speaking out)? Do I challenge people who do?
Change begins with conversation, and it also requires action. 50 Cent shows us how accountability is leadership in practice. Speaking up when silence feels safer challenges harmful norms. The words we choose can create environments where accountability thrives or allows harm to persist.
Emily Mancini 