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Posted: 2017-11-10T01:01:14Z | Updated: 2017-11-10T15:02:18Z

Matthew Weiner , creator and writer of the hit series Mad Men, is being accused of sexual harassment by his former assistant and writer, Kater Gordon.

Gordon told The Information on Thursday that during her time on the show, where she was Weiners personal assistant and later promoted to a staff writer, the show runner demanded to see her naked. Weiner often encouraged Gordon to pitch her own ideas, she said, and had offered her a chance to co-write one of the season finales when he came on to her.

He told me that I owed it to him to let him see me naked, Gordon told The Information.

At the time, Gordon said, she brushed the comment off and kept working, but felt threatened and demeaned. She felt that speaking out would ruin her career and her chance at a valuable credit on the season finale, she said, so she stayed silent aside from telling a colleague.

I thought, I cant do anything to jeopardize, Gordon told The Information. I need this credit. I saw no value to speaking out. So, I did what I thought women were supposed to do.

The episode Weiner and Gordon co-wrote, Meditations In An Emergency, went on to win an Emmy. Weeks after, Weiner called Gordon to let her know he wouldnt be bringing her on for another season.

Rumors began to fly online, detailed on Gawker , about whether an unprofessional relationship between the two caused the sudden departure of the Emmy-winning writer. Gordon gave a comment denying the rumors, and stopped working in television.

Weiners reps did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment, but did give a statement to The Information.

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Mr. Weiner spent eight to ten hours a day writing dialogue aloud with Miss Gordon, who started on Mad Men as his writers assistant, the statement read.
He does not remember saying this comment nor does it reflect a comment he would say to any colleague.

Then something changed in the industry: Dozens of women accused Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein of harassment and assault in The New York Times , The New Yorker and HuffPost , and he was kicked out of the motion picture academy and the Producers Guild in response. More powerful men, such as actor Kevin Spacey and New Republic publisher Hamilton Fish, were also accused of sexual misconduct and lost their jobs, and women felt more empowered to disclose such behavior.

Gordon is founding Modern Alliance, a nonprofit that produces what she calls visual scripts on how to stand up for victims.

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Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

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Its great to hold certain men accountable for their actions, but that is not going to immediately benefit somebody whos working in retail and is being harassed by someone next to him or her in the workplace, Gordon told The Information.

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Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost