Worcester Magazine Isn’t Firing Sexual Harassing Editor Walter Bird, So Victim #2 Came Forward To Tell What Walter Bird Did To Her When She Ran For Office
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A couple weeks back we revealed Facebook messages sent to us by City Councilor Michael Gaffney, that showed Worcester Magazine Editor Walter Bird inappropriately attempting to have mid-day sex with a woman who he had business with as editor of WoMag. A woman who clearly was not interested in his advances:
He obviously was not good at taking her hints when he intimated that he wanted to take her clothes off, and took her refusal to flat out call him a disgusting creep as “flirting”:
Newsflash Walter – just because you hung out with Ron Jeremy one time, doesn’t mean every chick wants your dong now.
Those women in the movies are actresses. They also have no souls. Women in real life don’t just jump on your bologna baton because you tossed it and said “come and get it.” In real life, women who are much younger than you and out of your league, aren’t interested in letting you explore their meat wallets.
Anyway, after we exposed this WoMag announced that they were putting him on leave. We figured they were figuring out his severance package and how to minimize the damage a potential lawsuit would bring Worcester Magazine.
Turns out they were just twiddling their thumbs and hoping we’d all forget about it:
Yup, that’s right – they’re hiring back a guy who was caught redhanded sexually harassing women while he was working:
More than two weeks ago, Worcester Magazine suspended editor Walter Bird Jr. in the wake of reports that he used his position with the company to pursue a personal relationship with an adult woman with whom he first interacted as a reporter. Over a period of several months, Bird and the woman engaged in an exchange of text and social media messages of a highly-personal nature. Those consensual exchanges took place two or more years ago. Snippets of the conversations have been published elsewhere and do not reflect all of the exchanges.
They were consensual messages, therefore it’s OK? What does that even mean? How can a text message not be consensual? It’s not actually sex. You don’t need consent to send an inappropriate Facebook message trying to coerce a woman into “getting our freak on” during a lunchbreak and going back to work together, even if the woman clearly states that she does not want to “rock the place” with you.
Of course we didn’t show all of the exchanges, even though we have seen more, because it would give away the identity of the woman. But apparently Worcester Magazine has no regard for victims of sexual harassment in the workplace, and weren’t willing to do anything unless she came forward and identified herself. Because that’s what they just baited her to do. If she wants Walter Bird fired she has to come forward and say who she is. Then they’ll slut shame her an give Walter another paid vacation before bringing him back again.
Worcester Magazine acted swiftly in response to what was made public. At the very least, Bird’s participation in the text conversations was deemed inappropriate. As such, he was placed on a leave of absence. After much scrutiny and deliberation, Worcester Magazine’s management took steps they deemed appropriate. Bird returns to Worcester Magazine as editor this week. At the same time, we redouble our commitment to the highest professional standards among all employees at all times, and have taken steps internally to reflect as much.
So the messages WERE inappropriate enough to warrant a suspension. But one of their employees doing this ON THE CLOCK, is OK by their “highest professional standards”:
Let’s be very clear here – Kathy Real and Worcester Magazine is giving Walter Bird a pass on sexual harassment in the workplace because they don’t like the messenger. They don’t want to legitimize Turtleboy Sports, and they don’t like Michael Gaffney. Their infatuation with both of us is more important than protecting women from a man who can’t keep it in his pants.
However, this story has convinced one of the other women Walter was inappropriate with to come forward. He was not graphic with this one, but it does show a pattern of Walter using his position at Worceter Magazine to try get laid. Victim #2 is a woman who ran for political office in the Worcester area. Walter Bird covered the election and campaign for WoMag and had frequent interactions with her. After the election was over he slid into her DM’s and tried to ask her out:
If you’re gonna start a sentence with “with no awkwardness at all,” you probably shouldn’t say something extremely awkward right afterwards. I can tell you as a heterosexual male that this woman is WAY out of his league. He should’ve known she would want nothing to do with him, but it’s not against any laws to ask her out.
However, it’s extremely inappropriate to ask out a woman whose only relationship with you was a professional one. And it’s not fair to put it on her to have to let him down nicely. He shouldn’t have put her in that situation. Is this what Worcester Magazine wants women who run for political office to contemplate? How they’re going to reject the “reporter” whose covering their campaign once it’s all done, without hurting his feels? Do male candidates often get asked out by female reporters? Nope. But it’s OK because Worcester Magazine is a sexist publication that doesn’t mind victimizing women.
More importantly this is two women now we’ve shown this with. It’s a pattern. It’s what he does.
Nevertheless he persisted:
Note to dudes – when a chick rejects you, don’t keep asking her out. She’s still not interested and is just trying to not hurt your feelings. Don’t tell her how lucky you’d feel if she said yes either. Because you’re clearly still trying to toss it in there.
More concerning is when he says, “I would love to stay in touch and I will still need your input for stories.” In other words, he intends on continuing to have a professional relationship with this woman, despite already asking her out twice. And more than likely he’ll use this as an opportunity to keep trying.
He wasn’t done though. Third time is a charm, right Walter?
Oh for fuck’s sake. He actually said, “I’m one of the good ones” to try to coerce her to change her mind.
Newsflash – no good guy in the history of courting has ever referred to themselves as “one of the ones.” The only people who feel the need to do that are the bad ones. Hey Walter – if you were one of the good ones you’d stop making her uncomfortable and asking her out. That’s not something good guys do. Just sayin.
We spoke with the woman, who claimed that Walter made her feel uncomfortable with his mannerisms throughout the campaign, and she was inspired to come forward after seeing the unfair treatment Worcester Magazine was giving Councilor Gaffney:
“I know. The guy is a pig. I don’t know what info I can give other than my own personal experience. When I ran for office he was always “there”. Staring creepily. Calling and emailing asking to do stories or ask for my opinion. I didn’t think much of it aside from getting gross creepy old man vibes from him. After the election was the first time he asked me out. I turned him down. He’d continue to message me, didn’t cross any boundaries though. He reached out several times afterward to ask for a “(redacted) opinion” on whatever he was working on. I wouldn’t participate. I told him to go screw because I wasn’t happy with how he was treating my good friend Michael Gaffney. I haven’t had any interactions with him since then. But I’m sure he doesn’t like me very much.
I know women who work in city hall and we’d laugh about how disgusting and creepy he was. It was always a joke about who he’d be trying to hit on next. No woman was safe from Birds advances. Which in my opinion is unprofessional and creates and uncomfortable working environment.
To top it all off this woman lost the election, and Worcester Magazine endorsed her opponent. We can’t reveal who that was or it would reveal who she is. But the message is clear – if you don’t have sex with Walter Bird, you probably won’t get endorsed by Worcester Magazine, since he’s directly involved in endorsements.
My question is, what do Worcester Magazine’s advertisers think of this? We know communist revolutionary and Joe Petty campaign coordinator Red Danny Margolis is more than pleased that this disgusting old man is still able to use his influence to coerce women into bed with him:
But that’s because Red Danny is so obsessed with us and Gaffney that he’d rather see women get victimized than Gaffney and Turtleboy be vindicated. Then again when you’re a creepy, single man who can’t find a woman to go out with you, I guess you kind of empathize with Walter Bird.
Our advertisers get harassed every other day because we’re allegedly so terrible for exposing men who use their position in the workplace to try to nail chicks. Meanwhile advertisers in Worcester Magazine get to continue to pay Walter Bird’s salary, as well as publisher Kathy Real, who ultimately had the authority to protect women and chose not to. We won’t resort to the bullying and harassment that our advertisers have gotten for choosing to spend their ad budgets on a website that people actually read. We’re above that. But I would personally like to know why Old Sturbridge Village, D’Iorios, Standard Auto Parts, and Altea’s Eatery (which we love) are choosing to support a publication that condones sexual harassment of women.
Feel free to ask them. We’re not going to organize a group messaging campaign, but as a private citizen who thinks Worcester Magazine’s disgusting approval of sexual harassment is problematic, you’re more than welcome to ask them why they’d choose to give WoMag money every month instead of a feminist family blog like Turtleboy. We’d gladly take them on our site if they’re interested in doing the right thing. Whatever Worcester Magazine is charging them we will offer half the price and promise them at least 10 times the exposure. Seems like a no-brainer, unless you like financing actual sexual harassment.
No matter what Worcester Magazine decides to do the damage has been done. They’ve been exposed by Turtleboy and Gaffney for what they are – a safe haven for predators. Whatever you do, do NOT take every Worcester Magazine from other business that allows WoMag to peddle their free newspapers there. And do NOT burn or throw them in the trash and send pictures to us. We would NOT appreciate if you did that.
The bottom line is that Worcester Magazine fucked up this time around, but they can still make it right. Because this is just the beginning. If victim #3 chooses to come forward, things are gonna get even more interesting. And you know it’s just gonna open up the door for more women to come forward too. Your move Kathy Real.
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22 Comment(s)
Sex texting or sexting is not appropriate at the workplace. For the commenters who claim “it is consensual” have not read the messages. The messages demonstrate Walter Bird Jr. texted wholly and completed sexually charged comments to an unsuspecting or uninviting receiver.
The fact the Worcester Magazine suspended him for 2 weeks, states without ambiguity, verbal sexual misconduct is acceptable during the work hour. Also, the fact they didn’t fire him and then went on the
Offensive against Gaffney demonstrates they accept and
condone Walter Bird Jr’s behavior. At no time was it mentioned Worcester Mag would conduct an internal investigation, by a reputable outside company, of the issues, personnel or its policies. Instead, as reported, they are conducting their own investigation of their own people. Who would ever trust a guy like Bill Shaner or Kathy Real to perform a fair, honest and in depth investigation. Who are these people? Where did they get their journalism degrees?
To date, WorMag has not stated they would update their sexual harassment policies or reporting procedures. Also, WM has NOT apologized to the female victims. It is business as usual at the paper.
The sponsors of Worcester Mag should equally be ashamed of themselves for patronizing what is clearly and objectively an offensive publication that allows their employees to abuse their power when interacting with female members of society.
So if I have this straight, TBS is claiming Bird is guilty of sexual harassment because:
a) Bird asked a woman who was a political candidate to go out on a date AFTER the election.
b) Bird asked her out 2 additional times after the first time she said she was busy and the second time she said thank you. She never said “no”.
c) The ladies at city hall all laugh at him because they consider him creepy, disgusting, and old.
d) Bird continued to message this woman asking her for information or her opinion on stories he was working on, ie. doing his job. How dare he?
e) TB wrote “However, it’s extremely inappropriate to ask out a woman whose only relationship with you was a professional one.” because no one has ever gone on a date with (or married) a co-worker, right?
This whole “Bird is a sexual harasser” thing reminds me of that SNL sexual harassment PSA skit with Tom Brady and Fred Armisen- they do the same thing to women in the office, but Fred is unattractive, so his saying you’re hot and asking the co-worker to lunch results in a sexual harassment lawsuit while Brady gets a date. Look it up: hulu or nbc.com.
I usually track with you TB, but this is such a stretch you might rip your ball sack. Careful, buddy!
I can’t remember the last time I saw that bird cage liner in a store. Might have to take a peek in Price Chopper though.
Just saying – I have a fancy new plasma lighter that I’d love to try out.
If you or I did this at our workplace, we’d be fired.
Walter isn’t because he has the proper political ideology — liberal — and liberals protect their own.
le sigh
not everything has to be black and white, left or right, there are shades of grey, standing up to a predatory jackass does not a feminist make.
I been emailing the regional manager of Stop & Shop wanting to know when they are going to not let the offensive to women WM peddle their wares in their doorway. The threat of taking my business to Market Basket had them call me twice today.
PS. I said the liberals and feminists would be crickets when one of their own is all about what they tell everyone they are opposed to. I nailed it.
her platform in politics is not as relevant as his pattern of using his council position and paper power to try to dupe females into sexing him
But the WoMag endorsement IS relevant. It IS about MY tax money, not your virtue signaling SJW BS. I thought TB was against all if this sideshow derailing of the American Dream?!
This was such a poignant statement, “it’s extremely inappropriate to ask out a woman whose only relationship with you was a professional one. And it’s not fair to put it on her to have to let him down nicely.” Unwanted sexual advances in a workplace environment is sexual harassment. It is a terrible reminder of what women all too often experience when pursuing their version of the american dream. Exposing blatent disregard of womens’ right to a safe work environment is what I hope to see in media.
I also appreciate that TB has not disclosed the womens’ identity. It is unfortunate that even in 2017 women (and men) are too often unwilling to report because victim shaming is common.
WoMag didn’t endorse her because she is a socialist that wanted to bleed homeowners dry with tax raises. Gaffney and TB are now FOR hiking takes on homeowners????!!!
She is outed now and we all know that she is upset that homeowners didn’t get MORE hosed on taxes to give away food stamp money that wasn’t needed. Foodstamps buy votes and apparently TB readers.
Grow up.
see also: dov charney (American Apparel CEO fired for making wee sex slaves of employees who were willing) fired, terry richardson (also going for that creepy old dude allure, celebrity photog), bob guccione jr (who let his SPIN magazine employees take advantage of their power with women there) while these were all salacious, unlike mr Walter bird jr, so much better reads, this story is fascinating cos he used a NEWSPAPER to creep on women RUNNING for OFFICE and had the power to endorse or not to endorse… scary
Rightwinger is a butthurt Walter Jr predator *facepalm*
smoke is him going after women abusing his power in the workplace to pressure them (failure to do so) into dates and straight out daytime sex… fire is him getting fired if his paper wasn’t terrified of the Turtleboys & Girls
is doing a good job exposing the dangerous jackasses for all to see and have a good laugh
ily
it was an emoji of a turtle smh
Where is the story here? More smoke, and no fire. I’m guessing WM probably won’t be endorsing anyone on the TB ticket, Hence the blog!
Ohh man, I hope more women come forward- each one would be a nail in Walter’s professional coffin. Of course WoMag is all for sexually harassing and manipulating women, if they hire someone as creepy looking as Walter. I can only imagine he’s just as creepy and uncomfortable to be around, in real life. Fuck WoMag, I hope every single one of their advertisers drops them like a hot potato and their “newspaper” is used as toilet paper by homeless people.
At this rate, I don’t understand why Walter keeps harassing chicks, he’s got so many dudes sucking his grimey cock, he shouldn’t need the company of a woman who works for/with him.
I was thinking this is much ado about nothing until you said WoMag endorsed her opponent after he got shot down. That’s a different story and Bird s/b fired.
The deli opposite the Worcester courthouse doesn’t carry it any longer.