A former employee of the San Francisco Standard filed a lawsuit Sept. 9 alleging gender discrimination, a hostile work environment and sexual harassment by the news outlet and its chief executive and co‑founder, Griffin Gaffney.
Allegations center on pattern of demeaning comments
The complaint, brought by Julia Ryan, says she worked at the Standard as director of growth from June 2024 to August 2025 and that her reporting line was shifted to Gaffney in October 2024. It alleges a pattern of comments by Gaffney that the suit describes as belittling toward women and at times sexually explicit.
Among the examples detailed in the suit, Ryan says Gaffney messaged her on Slack on Oct. 30, 2024, suggesting he should "have an affair with the significant other" of one of the publication's business partners and stating it "takes 'a hot ass' to close a deal," according to the filing. The complaint also recounts a Dec. 13, 2024, incident in which Gaffney allegedly referred to an album cover and said they should "recreate" it, while again suggesting an affair with a partner's significant other.
She said Gaffney suggested he should "have an affair with the significant other" of a business partner.
The filing additionally alleges Gaffney made comments about women’s appearances and weight, citing a text about a woman met at a work event in February 2025 in which he described her as having "crazy eyes" and credited a change in her size to a drug by name. Ryan said she felt these remarks formed part of a workplace double standard because the complaint does not allege comparable derogatory commentary about male colleagues.
Retaliation claim follows internal complaints
Ryan alleges she was fired in August 2025 in retaliation for raising concerns about Gaffney’s conduct toward female colleagues. The complaint contends she was treated "much less favorably" than male coworkers despite satisfactory performance.
The Standard was co‑founded in 2021 by Gaffney and billionaire Michael Moritz. The lawsuit names both the outlet and Gaffney as defendants and seeks relief for the alleged discrimination and hostile workplace environment.
- Plaintiff: Julia Ryan, former director of growth at the San Francisco Standard.
- Defendants: The San Francisco Standard and CEO/co‑founder Griffin Gaffney.
- Allegations: Gender discrimination, hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and retaliation.
Timeline of alleged incidents
| Date | Alleged event |
|---|---|
| June 2024 | Ryan joins the Standard as director of growth |
| Oct. 2024 | Ryan begins reporting directly to Gaffney |
| Oct. 30, 2024 | Slack message suggesting an affair to close a deal |
| Dec. 13, 2024 | Alleged comment about album cover and suggestion to "recreate" it |
| Feb. 2025 | Text referring to a woman from a work event with derogatory comments about appearance and weight |
| Aug. 2025 | Ryan alleges she was fired after raising concerns |
The complaint’s specific passages and timestamps frame a central claim of the suit: that Gaffney’s conduct created a workplace that was hostile to women and that internal complaints led to punitive action against the employee who spoke up.
Local implications and next steps
The San Francisco Standard has been one of several newer local outlets contributing to the city’s media ecosystem since its founding. Allegations that target leadership at a local news organization have potential consequences for newsroom morale, community trust and advertiser and donor relationships.
As of the filing, the lawsuit had been publicly reported and the complaint outlines the plaintiff’s account. The Standard and Gaffney have not been quoted here responding to the filing; in such cases, defendants commonly respond through legal filings or statements to the press, and further developments — including any motions, discovery or settlement talks — could follow.
Employment litigation involving allegations of harassment and retaliation can take months to resolve in court, and may involve depositions, document production and potential mediation. For San Francisco residents who follow local journalism and workplace equity issues, the case will be one to watch as it proceeds through the legal system.
