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Lawsuit accuses SF Standard CEO Griffin Gaffney of gender discrimination and harassment

Lawsuit accuses SF Standard CEO Griffin Gaffney of gender discrimination and harassment

Rule Changes San Francisco, CA local

Former growth director Julia Ryan alleges sexually explicit comments; outlet denies claims

Today: Mission Local reports on lawsuit; Standard denies claims

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

The San Francisco Standard's former director of growth sued the news outlet and its chief executive, Griffin Gaffney, on Sept. 9, accusing him of sexually explicit and demeaning comments about women and of firing her after she pushed back. Julia Ryan's wrongful termination and harassment complaint, filed in San Francisco County Superior Court, describes a CEO who evaluated women on appearance and mocked them in Slack messages.

The Standard denies the allegations. It says Ryan was fired because her subscription-growth efforts fell short, and that gender played no role. The case now turns on whether Ryan can show a hostile work environment and that her Aug. 6, 2025 termination was retaliation.

Why it matters

If the suit succeeds, one of San Francisco's best-known local news startups faces damages and scrutiny over how it treats women employees.

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Key Indicators

14 months
Ryan's tenure at The Standard
Hired June 2024, fired Aug. 6, 2025.
5 days
Gap between negative email and firing
Gaffney emailed feedback Aug. 1, 2025; Ryan fired Aug. 6.
20%
Raise Ryan received before firing
Salary increase in January 2025, months before termination.
13 months
Time between firing and lawsuit
Fired Aug. 2025, suit filed Sept. 9, 2026.

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People Involved

Griffin Gaffney
Griffin Gaffney
Co-founder and CEO, The San Francisco Standard
Accused in civil suit; denies allegations
 Julia Ryan
Julia Ryan
Former director of growth, The San Francisco Standard
Plaintiff in wrongful termination and harassment suit

Organizations Involved

The San Francisco Standard
The San Francisco Standard
Local news outlet
Defendant

San Francisco-based digital news outlet owned by Here/Say LLC.

Timeline

June 2024 September 2026

12 events Latest: Today Showing 8 of 12
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  1. Mission Local reports on lawsuit; Standard denies claims

    Today Statement

    The outlet issues a public denial, saying gender played no role in Ryan's firing.

  2. Ryan files lawsuit against Gaffney and Here/Say LLC

    Legal

    Wrongful termination and harassment complaint filed in San Francisco County Superior Court.

  3. Gaffney fires Ryan

    Employment

    Ryan is terminated five days after the negative email; she says she was "genuinely shocked."

  4. Negative feedback email

    Employment

    Gaffney emails Ryan blaming her for issues outside her control, the suit says.

  5. Gaffney praises Ryan's 'exceptional year'

    Employment

    CEO commends Ryan's performance weeks before firing her.

  6. Alleged disparagement of female tech leader

    Allegation

    Gaffney allegedly says a prominent woman in tech is "only famous because of her brother."

  7. Glowing performance review

    Employment

    Ryan receives a "glowing" review with no negative feedback, the suit says.

  8. Alleged "crazy eyes" and Ozempic comments

    Allegation

    Gaffney allegedly texts Ryan during a work event, mocking a woman's appearance and weight loss.

  9. Ryan receives 20 percent raise

    Employment

    Salary increase comes months before firing, per the lawsuit.

  10. Alleged sexually explicit Slack comments

    Allegation

    Gaffney allegedly suggests an affair with a business partner's significant other and says it takes a "hot ass" to close a deal.

  11. Ryan begins reporting directly to Gaffney

    Employment

    Ryan starts reporting to the CEO, and alleged inappropriate comments begin.

  12. Julia Ryan joins The San Francisco Standard

    Employment

    Ryan becomes director of growth after stints at TIME, Air Mail, and the New York Post.

Scenarios

1

Standard Settles Ryan's Claims Quietly

Likely Resolves by Sep 9, 2027

Discussed by: Employment attorneys cited in local coverage note that media companies often settle to avoid discovery and public testimony

Here/Say LLC and Gaffney reach a confidential settlement with Ryan, likely including damages and a non-disclosure agreement. The case is dismissed with prejudice before trial. A settlement would end the case without a ruling on whether Gaffney's conduct created a legally hostile environment.

2

Case Proceeds to Discovery and Trial

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Mission Local and Gazetteer SF note the suit's specificity; Ryan's lawyers say emotional distress claims will emerge

The court denies a motion to dismiss or grounds it, and the case enters discovery. Ryan's legal team seeks internal Slack messages, HR records, and testimony from other former employees, potentially surfacing more allegations. A trial date is set, though many such cases settle during discovery or before opening statements.

3

Judge Dismisses the Lawsuit

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: The Standard's statement previews this defense: it argues Ryan's performance shortfall, not gender, drove the firing

The court grants a motion to dismiss or for summary judgment, finding Ryan cannot show that Gaffney's comments created a legally actionable hostile work environment or that her termination was retaliation. The case ends without reaching a jury, and The Standard's public stance is vindicated.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

February–June 2015

Ellen Pao v. Kleiner Perkins (2015)

Ellen Pao, a junior partner at venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, sued for gender discrimination, alleging she was denied promotions and fired for complaining. The trial in San Francisco Superior Court lasted five weeks and drew national attention to Silicon Valley's treatment of women.

Then

A jury rejected all of Pao's claims in June 2015. She did not win damages, but the trial exposed internal emails and practices that many found biased.

Now

The case sparked industry-wide discussion about gender bias in venture capital and tech, prompting new HR policies and transparency commitments at several firms.

Why this matters now

Pao's suit is the benchmark for a high-profile gender discrimination case in San Francisco that went to trial. It shows that even a loss can reshape workplace norms, while a settlement avoids that public exposure.

July 2016

Gretchen Carlson v. Roger Ailes / Fox News (2016)

Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment suit against network chairman Roger Ailes, alleging he sabotaged her career after she rebuffed his advances. Ailes was forced out within weeks, and Fox ultimately paid Carlson a reported $20 million settlement.

Then

Ailes resigned under pressure shortly after the suit; the network also settled with other accusers. The case became a catalyst for the #MeToo movement.

Now

It established a template for workplace harassment suits against powerful media executives: litigation forces internal review, often ends in a settlement, and can topple leadership even without a verdict.

Why this matters now

The Gaffney case mirrors the Ailes dynamic: a single employee's suit against a media CEO over gendered comments, with the company's public posture of denial. It raises the question of whether litigation will force a leadership change or result in a quiet settlement.

Sources

(2)
Mission Local Gazetteer SF