Rosette Pambakian alleges in her suit that she was sexually assaulted by former Tinder CEO Greg Blatt. The alleged assault took place in a hotel room of a Tinder employee following a holiday party in 2016.
Blatt and Match Group, Tinder’s parent, are named in the suit. Pambakian also was part of a separate lawsuit alleging that Match Group intentionally undervalued Tinder so it would not have to pay billions in equity to Tinder’s startup team that include Pambakian.
In her suit, Pambakian alleges that Blatt told her at the holiday party that he got “hard every time I look at you,” and wanted her to leave with him. Fearing for her safety, Pambakian sought refuge in Blatt’s assistant’s room with a colleague. Blatt allegedly texted his assistant to find out where they were and then came to the room where he sexually assaulted Pambakian, according to the suit. Blatt allegedly apologized later and Pambakian agreed she would not speak about it again due to concern that it could hurt her career and reputation. Pambakian alleges that Blatt would later resign because of her allegation of sexual assault.
Match Group and its owner, ICA “engaged in a sham investigation conducted by biased executives in an effort to conceal and discredit the sexual assault suffered by [Pambakian],” the lawsuit notes. “Only when faced with the fact that they could no longer keep the assault quiet, did the Company Defendants take any action.”