No consequences for Castellani. He just posted this pile of self-serving, annoyed-sounding whining:

https://grubstreet.org/blog/message-from-christopher-castellani/

He clearly doesn't have any regrets other than being caught.

From the Grub Street update:

"Our community experienced a cultural earthquake on the heels of the article “Who is the Bad Art Friend?” that was recently published in The New York Times Magazine. It has been a very difficult time for many writers in our community and for GrubStreet as an organization. The article touched upon a myriad of issues, including race, class, elitism, artistic ethics, and insider-outsider dynamics."

"A myriad of issues"?!? Anyone who spends even 1 cent to receive training in writing by this organization is foolish indeed.

I guess Steve Almond was right in the end.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So basically GrubStreet had the women take the fall, and the men who behaved as badly or worse continue as if nothing happened.

This whole group is revolting. I feel for the aspiring writers who trusted this organization.

I don't understand how any new writer could feel safe there again.

Anonymous wrote:So basically GrubStreet had the women take the fall, and the men who behaved as badly or worse continue as if nothing happened.

This whole group is revolting. I feel for the aspiring writers who trusted this organization.

My takeaway is this: Foundationally, the GrubStreet leadership does not think that Sonya Larson and the rest of the Chunky Monkeys did anything wrong, even now, after everything. They know they have to get rid of some people because the outcry would be too large otherwise and GrubStreet depends on donations. However, GrubStreet clearly messaged by the lavish and over-the-top praise for Larson and Murphy in that letter that GrubStreet itself does not find any fault with them or their actions. Normally, people who are being escorted out for wrongdoing do not get wildly praised by those institutions. GrubStreet is essentially communicating that Larson and Murphy are leaving against the will of the GrubStreet leadership.

We know from the evidence in the court case that it was a corrupt and cruel institution; it is clear that they've made the decision to double down (and to do so in a way that exonerates the men involved entirely). I do not know why any beginning writer would attend a class there ever again. How could you ever trust your instructors? What would happen if you were sexually harassed? How could you trust their HR processes? How could anyone feel safe there?

Kidneygate is back! Hurray!

Whoops. Fixed the link (I think).

Twitter has observed that Castellani had no consequences.

[/twitter]https://twitter.com/DrDorianCramer/status/1454428495598309378[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waiting for Christopher Castellani to make his statement in the next few days. I wonder what his explanation will be? I’m glad that Sonya Larson, Alison Murphy, and Jennifer De Leon have left though. Seems like they’re cleaning house.

Chip cheek needs to go too

They are only cleaning house for the women. The men are keeping their jobs, titles, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Waiting for Christopher Castellani to make his statement in the next few days. I wonder what his explanation will be? I’m glad that Sonya Larson, Alison Murphy, and Jennifer De Leon have left though. Seems like they’re cleaning house.

Chip cheek needs to go too

Waiting for Christopher Castellani to make his statement in the next few days. I wonder what his explanation will be? I’m glad that Sonya Larson, Alison Murphy, and Jennifer De Leon have left though. Seems like they’re cleaning house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woah, after commenting on this thread I searched "Bad Art Friend" on Twitter just for kicks and it turns out GrubStreet just released a statement:

https://grubstreet.org/blog/update-for-the-grubstreet-community-102921/

It looks like Sonya Larson and Alison Murphy (the GrubStreet director who advised Sonya to let the GrubStreet Writers of Color "draaaaag" Dawn) have been let go.

The statement seemed more like “best wishes” than “these people messed up and lost their job for it.”
What is interesting is that Sonya seems to have only worked at Grub Street. I wonder what her next chapter will be.

So basically GrubStreet had the women take the fall, and the men who behaved as badly or worse continue as if nothing happened.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Celeste Ng is a big disappointment, but you know who is fabulous? AMY TAN. I don't think it's possible to be wrong about this. She is a whole nother level.

What a weird comment. Asian-American writers aren’t interchangeable. How is Amy Tan at all relevant to this conversation?

Agree. This thread has been thoughtful and interesting, but that comment, randomly interchanging two Asian women, was really disappointing and unfortunate.