SF Standard CEO Accused Of Demeaning, Sexually Harassing Women In Explosive Lawsuit

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A former employee is suing the San Francisco Standard and its CEO, claiming they subjected her to gender discrimination, harassment and several labor violations.

The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court on Sept. 9, accuses San Francisco Standard CEO Griffin Gaffney of routinely making sexually explicit and demeaning comments to Julia Ryan, a marketing expert hired in 2024 by the company as director of growth.

Gaffney co-founded the publication along with billionaire Michael Moritz in 2021.

Ryan was fired just over a year into her role, with the San Francisco Standard telling Mission Local in a statement that while they hired her to help grow the company's subscriptions, she fell short of expectations.

San Francisco Standard added that gender did not play a role in the decision to fire Ryan, and that they would address the claims through a legal process, "not in the press," according to Mission Local.

But the lawsuit counters that claim, stating that after just seven months in her new role, the San Francisco Standard gave Ryan a "glowing" performance review and a 20% salary bump.

The only feedback given to Ryan was that she should "delegate more so she could take on greater leadership responsibilities," according to the lawsuit.

During Ryan's time at the company, Gaffney subjected Ryan to harassment and made disparaging comments about women, the lawsuit alleges.

During one instance, he sent a Slack message to Ryan suggesting that he should have an affair with a business partner's significant other to close a deal, saying it took a "hot ass" to close a deal and that employees should have gym memberships for that reason,the lawsuit alleges.

He also regularly made fun of women's appearances and questioned their credentials and intelligence, the lawsuit alleges.

Ryan, concerned the newsroom had a gender double standard, brought her concerns to other managers, the lawsuit alleges.

On Aug. 1, 2025, Ryan was berated over poor performance involving "projects managed by male-led teams," and later fired, the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit also alleges that male counterparts who underperformed were given months to improve.

Ryan is seeking compensation for lost earnings and emotional distress.