THREAD: In 2013, Wade "It's time for me to get mine!" Robson debuted his tall tale accusations to universal disbelief, even among heavily guilt-centric audiences.

Of all pundits, Harvey Levin & TMZ staff were actually the most vocal in pointing out the absurdity of his claims.

When the details of Wade's claims first emerged and following his NBC tell-all, the overwhelming majority of TMZ's userbase (who have always been critical of MJ) also doubted them.

- 92% Didn't Believe Wade (168,500)
- 75% Wade Big Fat Liar (412,713)
- 75% MJ Not Pedo (612,329)
Initial sources in TMZ's circle suggested Wade's claims were based on "repressed memories" - The unfounded junk science commonly used in false CSA accusations (including those made against MJ by Kapon and Bartucci Jr.).

Wade made a point to tell Lauer it wasn't repressed memory.
TMZ correctly noted the lawsuit was about "wanting money from the estate" despite Wade claiming otherwise.

They showed videos of people calling the claims out, including Omarion & Joe Jackson.

They included Mesereau quote: "Why call yourself a creditor if it's not about money?"
TMZ aired a phone call w/ Debbie Rowe who expressed staunch disbelief about these claims—Levin agreed.

DEBBIE ROWE: Wade's publicity-seeking attempt is opportunistic & oozes in falseness. It will quickly be forgotten and will do nothing to tarnish MJ's extraordinary legacy.
While sources suggested to TMZ that Wade had "substantial savings" as a wealthy entertainer, they also interviewed Thomas Mesereau who heard what would be proven more accurate.

MESEREAU: I've heard contrary reports. I've heard that he's not getting a lot of work these days...
Levin and staff took particular issue with Wade claiming it WASN'T repressed memories, but that he just didn't recognize (at age 22) that it was abuse.

Levin then read Robson's 2005 transcript on-air where he was asked very targeted questions that dismantle his new arguments.
LEVIN: When Wade testifies in 05 @ 22 years old he's testifying in a trial where the whole premise is it's wrong to do what allegedly happened to him—he knows he's not going to go to jail when he's 22—doesn't make any sense.

"Comes off like he's lying again, lying & lying..."
Levin reiterated the unlikeliness of this being normal victim behavior based on Wade's interview & sworn testimony.

Also LEVIN: When he said "this is not about money"🤔that's WHY you file a creditor's claim. You're filing for money. Ultimately it's about money. It's about dough.
The fact that in 2013, TMZ (one of the most MJ-hate filled gossip sites) repeatedly denounced the allegations says a lot.

Similarly, Piers Morgan was one of the few hosts to actually grill Dan with honest questions.

Sometimes even hosts with tabloid roots call a spade a spade.

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Harvard's discriminatory policies are becoming increasingly well known, across the political spectrum (see, e.g., the recent lawsuit on discrimination against East Asian applications.)

It's refreshing to hear a senior administrator admits to personally opposing policies that attempt to remedy these basic flaws. These are flaws that harm his institution's ability to do cutting-edge research and to serve the public.

Harvard is being eclipsed by institutions that have different ideas about how to run a 21st Century institution. Stanford, for one; the UC system; the "public Ivys".
“We don’t negotiate salaries” is a negotiation tactic.

Always. No, your company is not an exception.

A tactic I don’t appreciate at all because of how unfairly it penalizes low-leverage, junior employees, and those loyal enough not to question it, but that’s negotiation for you after all. Weaponized information asymmetry.

Listen to Aditya


And by the way, you should never be worried that an offer would be withdrawn if you politely negotiate.

I have seen this happen *extremely* rarely, mostly to women, and anyway is a giant red flag. It suggests you probably didn’t want to work there.

You wish there was no negotiating so it would all be more fair? I feel you, but it’s not happening.

Instead, negotiate hard, use your privilege, and then go and share numbers with your underrepresented and underpaid colleagues. […]