Because Mr. Sanford doesn't want opinions and questions on his behavior with Mr. Ekpeki other than his own, he canceled my subscription, but that's not going to work. If he wants to post to the SFF community, he will be held responsible.
Mr. Sanford barely apologized to the many donors of the Gofundme accounts he set up to facilitate Mr. Ekpeki's expansive issues. And while the apology is the bare minimum, the lack of accountability is completely non-existent. Tens of thousands handed out with absolutely no accounting to the donors! And, while the lack of accountability on fundraising for travel and travel expenses may possibly skate by, the fundraising Mr. Sanford did for legal and visa funds MUST be accounted for.
In addition to not illuminating where these monies went, Mr. Sanford takes absolutely no responsibility for his part in showcasing and platforming the person he now attacks, and indeed, he seems to more upset for himself than for anyone he helped fleece. But he knew there had been numerous complaints about MR. Ekepki's behaviors and attitudes, and he not only ignored them, but actively and maliciously targeted Mr. Ekpeki's detractors without ever once talking with them.
And most egregiously, Mr. Sanford abdicates responsibility to the innumerable historically marginalized authors he's hurt with his actions. He never even mentions them. In his necessity to center himself as a marginalization savior, he did more damage to sidelined authors than most. And not one word!
I'm appalled by Mr. Sanford's lacks, along with the many others who've chosen to remain silent, without even the glancing apology to the people hurt. The institutions and people who chose to ignore long-time industry professionals and fans who spoke out, to choose in favor of performative politics, is disgusting, and Mr. Sanford is far from the only one in community leadership who acted this way. They made sure for two years that any complainant against him was tagged as racist and problematic, in concert with Mr. Ekpeki's weaponization and manipulation of his skin color. And I will keep bringing this to the front of racial conversations in our community!
Because Mr. Sanford doesn't want opinions and questions on his behavior with Mr. Ekpeki other than his own, he canceled my subscription, but that's not going to work. If he wants to post to the SFF community, he will be held responsible.
Mr. Sanford barely apologized to the many donors of the Gofundme accounts he set up to facilitate Mr. Ekpeki's expansive issues. And while the apology is the bare minimum, the lack of accountability is completely non-existent. Tens of thousands handed out with absolutely no accounting to the donors! And, while the lack of accountability on fundraising for travel and travel expenses may possibly skate by, the fundraising Mr. Sanford did for legal and visa funds MUST be accounted for.
In addition to not illuminating where these monies went, Mr. Sanford takes absolutely no responsibility for his part in showcasing and platforming the person he now attacks, and indeed, he seems to more upset for himself than for anyone he helped fleece. But he knew there had been numerous complaints about MR. Ekepki's behaviors and attitudes, and he not only ignored them, but actively and maliciously targeted Mr. Ekpeki's detractors without ever once talking with them.
And most egregiously, Mr. Sanford abdicates responsibility to the innumerable historically marginalized authors he's hurt with his actions. He never even mentions them. In his necessity to center himself as a marginalization savior, he did more damage to sidelined authors than most. And not one word!
I'm appalled by Mr. Sanford's lacks, along with the many others who've chosen to remain silent, without even the glancing apology to the people hurt. The institutions and people who chose to ignore long-time industry professionals and fans who spoke out, to choose in favor of performative politics, is disgusting, and Mr. Sanford is far from the only one in community leadership who acted this way. They made sure for two years that any complainant against him was tagged as racist and problematic, in concert with Mr. Ekpeki's weaponization and manipulation of his skin color. And I will keep bringing this to the front of racial conversations in our community!