Hollywood manager Michael Einfeld apologized for a “tasteless, humorless and completely inexcusable” email in which he called an assistant an “uppity selfish c—” because she asked for a day off on “A Day Without Women.”
The assistant, Rosette Laursen, might never have seen Einfeld’s remarks if he hadn’t accidentally hit “reply all” in a message intended for her two male colleagues. She shared them Tuesday on a Facebook post that quickly went viral.
“A Day Without Women,” on March 8, encouraged women to take the day off to raise awareness of gender inequality in the workplace. When Laursen asked to take an unpaid day, Einfeld sent an email that unintentionally included her.
“Are you f—– kidding me. At the end of pilot season. Someone should sew her vagina shut. I’m never hiring a girl ever again,” he wrote.
A second email read, “No bonus for anyone that strikes or leaves early in pilot season. No one is striking in show business we are all against Trump. And women are considered diverse and being shoved in as writer and directors. Zach who is a Jewish male is being pushed out. Uppity Selfish C—. Heather went to work. I’m sure anyone at a casting office or agency would be fired.”
After the post went viral, Einfeld sent an email Thursday to friends and colleagues, Jezebel reported. (Einfeld and Laursen did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s requests for comment.)
“Let me say without reservation – I am sorry,” said the email. “I used language that was tasteless, humorless and completely inexcusable. I believe deeply in workplace diversity regardless of race, gender, creed or sexual orientation, and I am mortified that the things I have said have worked against my commitment to inclusion,” he wrote. “As I’ve searched for a response to all this, what I’ve discovered is that words fall woefully short of my extreme remorse – I am so sorry.”
He added, “I will be undertaking some obviously needed introspection, and want to thank those of you who have expressed a willingness to standby me. To those that feel they need space from me – I am heartbroken but understand. If it were possible, I wouldn’t mind space from myself right now. Again, to everyone – I am sorry. If this is something you are willing to hear from me in person please call, or send me a note and I’ll call you. I am devastated, and hope in time you will consider giving me the chance to earn your forgiveness.”
Laursen initially referred to Einfeld as “Jorkle,” but later identified him by name.
“I emailed Jorkle that I would love to spend the day writing, as my career goal is to be a TV Writer, and unfortunately writers’ rooms are very dominantly male, even in2017,” she said on Facebook. “I did not ask to be paid for the day, so it was the equivalent of asking for an unpaid sick day. Pilot season was slowing way down, and things were pretty quiet at work that week so far.”
She said that after the “reply all” debacle, he sent her texts saying, “I apologize for venting like a masagonistic [sic] faggit [sic]. I was letting off steam I didn’t mean to hit reply all. I’m an a-hole. If you come back we can play Nazi death camp. You can beat me and put me in the oven. Or feed me cabbage and lock me in the shower. I am truly sorry.”
Laursen quit her job with Einfeld, and her friends encouraged her to pursue legal action. She said Einfeld failed to respond to her lawyer’s requests, so she decided to post the emails and texts.