Ann Olivarius
@annolivarius.bsky.social
Founding partner. US and UK employment, discrimination and sexual assault/abuse law. KC Hons. Feminist. She/Her.
The sorry last chapter - when the scandal has broken and the perpetrator escaped accountability, there's instead a performative "reckoning", with little aftercare for the victims, much less compensation or justice.
August 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The sorry last chapter - when the scandal has broken and the perpetrator escaped accountability, there's instead a performative "reckoning", with little aftercare for the victims, much less compensation or justice.
This is what a lawyer calls "notice". There's usually someone, somewhere, who sounded the alarm.
And they're usually ignored. Because, when you're a star, they let you do it.
Especially if the institution is faltering and desperate for a success.
And they're usually ignored. Because, when you're a star, they let you do it.
Especially if the institution is faltering and desperate for a success.
August 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
This is what a lawyer calls "notice". There's usually someone, somewhere, who sounded the alarm.
And they're usually ignored. Because, when you're a star, they let you do it.
Especially if the institution is faltering and desperate for a success.
And they're usually ignored. Because, when you're a star, they let you do it.
Especially if the institution is faltering and desperate for a success.
Victims (especially women) are conveniently always crazy, mentally ill, hysterical, vengeful, jealous or obsessed.
This gives those who should have acted an excuse to not act ("poor woman, she was awfully unwell, I understand").
This gives those who should have acted an excuse to not act ("poor woman, she was awfully unwell, I understand").
August 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Victims (especially women) are conveniently always crazy, mentally ill, hysterical, vengeful, jealous or obsessed.
This gives those who should have acted an excuse to not act ("poor woman, she was awfully unwell, I understand").
This gives those who should have acted an excuse to not act ("poor woman, she was awfully unwell, I understand").
It's not abusive, creepy sex, it's, uh, a new "Post-modern definition of sexuality". What a relief!
It's profoundly difficult to go against a cult leader when you're in the cult. To be able to label wrong-doing as something else instead can be a relief.
It's profoundly difficult to go against a cult leader when you're in the cult. To be able to label wrong-doing as something else instead can be a relief.
August 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
It's not abusive, creepy sex, it's, uh, a new "Post-modern definition of sexuality". What a relief!
It's profoundly difficult to go against a cult leader when you're in the cult. To be able to label wrong-doing as something else instead can be a relief.
It's profoundly difficult to go against a cult leader when you're in the cult. To be able to label wrong-doing as something else instead can be a relief.
"Chrissnapping". Classic cult dynamic to normalise abuse by creating a cute moniker or developing specific in-group euphemisms.
Abuse is more readily accepted when it's called something else, by everyone else. This increases the plausible deniability for all involved.
Abuse is more readily accepted when it's called something else, by everyone else. This increases the plausible deniability for all involved.
August 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
"Chrissnapping". Classic cult dynamic to normalise abuse by creating a cute moniker or developing specific in-group euphemisms.
Abuse is more readily accepted when it's called something else, by everyone else. This increases the plausible deniability for all involved.
Abuse is more readily accepted when it's called something else, by everyone else. This increases the plausible deniability for all involved.
In a cult, the Charismatic Leader will clasically start off humble and gradually, as his power grows, develop a taste for luxury and vanity purchases that props up his increasingly grandiose self-image.
August 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
In a cult, the Charismatic Leader will clasically start off humble and gradually, as his power grows, develop a taste for luxury and vanity purchases that props up his increasingly grandiose self-image.
Are we seriously wonder why the Church of England chose to close its eyes to a sexual misconduct scandal in its midst?
That particular response is deep in the Church's DNA (any news on that Redress scheme, incidentally?).
If there's no inquiry, nobody gets blamed.
That particular response is deep in the Church's DNA (any news on that Redress scheme, incidentally?).
If there's no inquiry, nobody gets blamed.
August 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Are we seriously wonder why the Church of England chose to close its eyes to a sexual misconduct scandal in its midst?
That particular response is deep in the Church's DNA (any news on that Redress scheme, incidentally?).
If there's no inquiry, nobody gets blamed.
That particular response is deep in the Church's DNA (any news on that Redress scheme, incidentally?).
If there's no inquiry, nobody gets blamed.
A classic lie: the victims are only coming forward because ... it's simply so much FUN to enter the criminal justice system as a witness.
Who wouldn't want to devote months to relive their trauma, not work, lose money, only to be grilled and slandered by the defence?
Who wouldn't want to devote months to relive their trauma, not work, lose money, only to be grilled and slandered by the defence?
August 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
A classic lie: the victims are only coming forward because ... it's simply so much FUN to enter the criminal justice system as a witness.
Who wouldn't want to devote months to relive their trauma, not work, lose money, only to be grilled and slandered by the defence?
Who wouldn't want to devote months to relive their trauma, not work, lose money, only to be grilled and slandered by the defence?
This is the heart of the case. Victims can't "just leave" or "just say no", because their abuser A) has a hotline to God and B) they'll lose their entire community.
Everything about a cult is engineered to put people in a situation where obedience is the only outcome.
Everything about a cult is engineered to put people in a situation where obedience is the only outcome.
August 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
This is the heart of the case. Victims can't "just leave" or "just say no", because their abuser A) has a hotline to God and B) they'll lose their entire community.
Everything about a cult is engineered to put people in a situation where obedience is the only outcome.
Everything about a cult is engineered to put people in a situation where obedience is the only outcome.
First, some good news: Prosecutors realised and successfully convinced the jury that consent is meaningless in a high-control group.
This is a massively important point, as usually victims are blamed for the abuse they endure.
This is a massively important point, as usually victims are blamed for the abuse they endure.
August 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
First, some good news: Prosecutors realised and successfully convinced the jury that consent is meaningless in a high-control group.
This is a massively important point, as usually victims are blamed for the abuse they endure.
This is a massively important point, as usually victims are blamed for the abuse they endure.
Don't ever believe this is "consent".
#DiddyTrial
#DiddyTrial
July 2, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Don't ever believe this is "consent".
#DiddyTrial
#DiddyTrial
This is why Cassie went civil.
She kept her privacy and her dignity, settled in a day and got the means to rebuild.
The criminal justice system made a spectacle of her pain. For seven long days, and all for this…
This is why I’m a civil lawyer.
She kept her privacy and her dignity, settled in a day and got the means to rebuild.
The criminal justice system made a spectacle of her pain. For seven long days, and all for this…
This is why I’m a civil lawyer.
July 2, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This is why Cassie went civil.
She kept her privacy and her dignity, settled in a day and got the means to rebuild.
The criminal justice system made a spectacle of her pain. For seven long days, and all for this…
This is why I’m a civil lawyer.
She kept her privacy and her dignity, settled in a day and got the means to rebuild.
The criminal justice system made a spectacle of her pain. For seven long days, and all for this…
This is why I’m a civil lawyer.
Men who rape children need help to get away with it. They need sane, well-employed adults to believe that a 10-year old girl can be "a prostitute".
They rely on police, social workers, family, teachers, everyone, to value girls so little that this seems normal:
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
They rely on police, social workers, family, teachers, everyone, to value girls so little that this seems normal:
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
June 13, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Men who rape children need help to get away with it. They need sane, well-employed adults to believe that a 10-year old girl can be "a prostitute".
They rely on police, social workers, family, teachers, everyone, to value girls so little that this seems normal:
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
They rely on police, social workers, family, teachers, everyone, to value girls so little that this seems normal:
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
Combs is charged under the TVPA. The Trafficking Act doesn't care about "consent".
If the prosecution can prove fraud or coercion, it really doesn't MATTER if the victim says or is made to say they "consented".
Combs' lawyers are arguing a trafficking case as if it were a rape case. Why?
If the prosecution can prove fraud or coercion, it really doesn't MATTER if the victim says or is made to say they "consented".
Combs' lawyers are arguing a trafficking case as if it were a rape case. Why?
June 12, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Combs is charged under the TVPA. The Trafficking Act doesn't care about "consent".
If the prosecution can prove fraud or coercion, it really doesn't MATTER if the victim says or is made to say they "consented".
Combs' lawyers are arguing a trafficking case as if it were a rape case. Why?
If the prosecution can prove fraud or coercion, it really doesn't MATTER if the victim says or is made to say they "consented".
Combs' lawyers are arguing a trafficking case as if it were a rape case. Why?
Workplace harassment can turn into a deliberately public performance of ritual humiliation.
It's an effective way to create obedience and complicity for the rank and file and impunity f leadership.
That's exactly the power dynamic I see in our cult cases.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
It's an effective way to create obedience and complicity for the rank and file and impunity f leadership.
That's exactly the power dynamic I see in our cult cases.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
June 12, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Workplace harassment can turn into a deliberately public performance of ritual humiliation.
It's an effective way to create obedience and complicity for the rank and file and impunity f leadership.
That's exactly the power dynamic I see in our cult cases.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
It's an effective way to create obedience and complicity for the rank and file and impunity f leadership.
That's exactly the power dynamic I see in our cult cases.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Gutting. How many women and girls think they even deserve an apology? How many still think it's their own fault?
Jessica Davies is right to expect an apology. We all should. Because this hurts and demeans all women, as a class, and that's the point.
It's political AND personal.
Jessica Davies is right to expect an apology. We all should. Because this hurts and demeans all women, as a class, and that's the point.
It's political AND personal.
April 30, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Gutting. How many women and girls think they even deserve an apology? How many still think it's their own fault?
Jessica Davies is right to expect an apology. We all should. Because this hurts and demeans all women, as a class, and that's the point.
It's political AND personal.
Jessica Davies is right to expect an apology. We all should. Because this hurts and demeans all women, as a class, and that's the point.
It's political AND personal.
We need to face, unflinchingly, the full political implications of what the internet allows men to do to women.
Jessica Davies is right to see a connection between the Online Safety Act and cuts to youth services etc. This problem won't be solved just online. But it must be solved online too.
Jessica Davies is right to see a connection between the Online Safety Act and cuts to youth services etc. This problem won't be solved just online. But it must be solved online too.
April 30, 2025 at 10:51 AM
We need to face, unflinchingly, the full political implications of what the internet allows men to do to women.
Jessica Davies is right to see a connection between the Online Safety Act and cuts to youth services etc. This problem won't be solved just online. But it must be solved online too.
Jessica Davies is right to see a connection between the Online Safety Act and cuts to youth services etc. This problem won't be solved just online. But it must be solved online too.
Imagine the real life consequences if every woman could know what their male friends, dates, boyfriends, husbands, fathers and sons post about them.
What would happen if women knew? What would we change, in our families and in society at large?
What would happen if women knew? What would we change, in our families and in society at large?
April 30, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Imagine the real life consequences if every woman could know what their male friends, dates, boyfriends, husbands, fathers and sons post about them.
What would happen if women knew? What would we change, in our families and in society at large?
What would happen if women knew? What would we change, in our families and in society at large?
The horror of the manosphere, of the internet, is realising how many men hate not just "women" but their own moms, daughters and wives.
How many men enjoy letting strangers sexually humiliate and violate their own family.
So many Dominique Pelicots in training.
theguardian.com/society/2025...
How many men enjoy letting strangers sexually humiliate and violate their own family.
So many Dominique Pelicots in training.
theguardian.com/society/2025...
April 30, 2025 at 10:51 AM
The horror of the manosphere, of the internet, is realising how many men hate not just "women" but their own moms, daughters and wives.
How many men enjoy letting strangers sexually humiliate and violate their own family.
So many Dominique Pelicots in training.
theguardian.com/society/2025...
How many men enjoy letting strangers sexually humiliate and violate their own family.
So many Dominique Pelicots in training.
theguardian.com/society/2025...
April 10, 2025 at 12:45 PM
You really don't have to be Judith Butler or Freud to see that MAGA loves tarifs, an economically disastrous policy, because it adresses long-standing anxieties about men's perceived loss of status in a globalised world.
This is isn't about the stock market. It's about who makes the sandwich.
This is isn't about the stock market. It's about who makes the sandwich.
April 8, 2025 at 1:42 PM
You really don't have to be Judith Butler or Freud to see that MAGA loves tarifs, an economically disastrous policy, because it adresses long-standing anxieties about men's perceived loss of status in a globalised world.
This is isn't about the stock market. It's about who makes the sandwich.
This is isn't about the stock market. It's about who makes the sandwich.
Dads, even the "good ones" are simply more absent than moms.
The solution is not a return to the good old days where dad's word was law, but for men to step up and do the actual ... *work* of parenting.
The care work, the admin work, the housework.
www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...
The solution is not a return to the good old days where dad's word was law, but for men to step up and do the actual ... *work* of parenting.
The care work, the admin work, the housework.
www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...
March 24, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Dads, even the "good ones" are simply more absent than moms.
The solution is not a return to the good old days where dad's word was law, but for men to step up and do the actual ... *work* of parenting.
The care work, the admin work, the housework.
www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...
The solution is not a return to the good old days where dad's word was law, but for men to step up and do the actual ... *work* of parenting.
The care work, the admin work, the housework.
www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...
"Why DID you try to appease the man who had just shown you he could and would hurt you?"
Defence barristers still try to make victims' reasonable, understandable and logical attempts to stay safe mean their clients must be innocent.
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
Defence barristers still try to make victims' reasonable, understandable and logical attempts to stay safe mean their clients must be innocent.
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
March 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
"Why DID you try to appease the man who had just shown you he could and would hurt you?"
Defence barristers still try to make victims' reasonable, understandable and logical attempts to stay safe mean their clients must be innocent.
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
Defence barristers still try to make victims' reasonable, understandable and logical attempts to stay safe mean their clients must be innocent.
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
Workplace bullying is both a cause and effect of corruption.
Terrified, arbitrarily punished and humiliated employees are unlikely to call out misconduct like this:
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
Terrified, arbitrarily punished and humiliated employees are unlikely to call out misconduct like this:
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
March 17, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Workplace bullying is both a cause and effect of corruption.
Terrified, arbitrarily punished and humiliated employees are unlikely to call out misconduct like this:
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
Terrified, arbitrarily punished and humiliated employees are unlikely to call out misconduct like this:
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...