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Dating App ‘Tinder’ Gets Matched With Sexual Harassment Suit

Kaitlan Collins Contributor
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A co-founder of the popular dating app Tinder is now suing the company for sexual harassment and discrimination.

Whitney Wolfe, formerly the mobile hook-up company’s co-founder — before she was demoted to marketing vice president — filed the suit Monday.

Wolfe alleges that — beginning roughly 18 months ago — co-founder Justin Mateen discriminated against her by forcing her out of her title because of her gender. She maintains that he publicly insulted her and repeatedly called her a “whore” at a company party in front of Chief Executive Officer Sean Rad, who ignored her complaints.

More specifically, Wolfe alleges Mateen forced her out of her title because having a 24-year-old girl as a co-founder made the company “seem like a joke” and devalued it.

Wolfe’s lawsuit also alleges that she had become romantically involved with Mateen in late 2012, and Mateen told coworkers post-romance that Wolfe was an “alcoholic” and “desperate loser.”

She also claims that both men subjected her to a “barrage” of “horrendously sexist” emails and text messages. Wolfe said that when she complained to Rad about the ongoing abuse, he threatened her job security.

After the company event, Wolfe said she offered her resignation if Rad would give her “a modest severance and vesting of her stock.” He instead rejected the offer and fired her.

The New York Post reports that InterActivCorp, which owns a majority stake in the company, said Mateen has been suspended pending an ongoing investigation.