Former Mad Men Writer Accuses Matthew Weiner of Sexual Harassment

July 2024 · 4 minute read

Former “Mad Men” writer Kater Gordon has accused series creator Matthew Weiner of making a sexually charged remark to her while she worked on the series.

According to a report published Thursday by the Information, Gordon alleges while working together late one night in 2008, Weiner said she owed it to him to let him see her naked. A PR rep for Weiner reiterated the statement he gave to the Information: “He does not remember saying this comment nor does it reflect a comment he would say to any colleague.”

Gordon won a writing Emmy in 2009 for her work on “Mad Men,” but she has not worked in TV since she was let go from the “Mad Men” staff at the end of the third season. She began her TV career as a personal assistant to Weiner, then advanced to writing assistant to Weiner and ultimately to staff writer.

Of the incident, Gordon said she recalls freezing up and trying to brush off his comment. She didn’t report the remark to anyone at the time out of fear of losing her job. She told the Information she decided to speak out about her experience following the explosive revelations of sexual assault allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein.

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Gordon said she felt “threatened and devalued” after Weiner allegedly made the remark about seeing her naked, and said the incident shook her confidence in her writing ability. Her departure from the show gained attention in industry circles because it came on the heels of the Emmy win, an award she shared with Weiner as co-writer. During its seven-season run, “Mad Men” was known for regular turnover among its writing staff.

Gordon, who now lives in California’s Bay Area, said she is launching a nonprofit org dubbed Modern Alliance designed to help educate women and raise awareness of how to deal with sexual harassment.

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