A former executive at dating site Tinder is suing the West Hollywood-based company and its ex-chief executive, alleging he assaulted her and the company wrongfully fired her, according to court papers obtained Tuesday.
Rosette Pambakian, former head of marketing and communications at Tinder, alleges that she was assaulted by ex-Match Group and Tinder CEO Gregory Blatt at Tinder’s holiday party at a Beverly Hills hotel in December 2016, after he allegedly made sexual advances.
Also named in the suit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court is Match Group and IAC/Interactive Corp. — parent companies of Tinder — for allegedly firing Pambakian after she reported Blatt.
A representative for Match Group acknowledged that a request for comment had been received, but did not immediately offer a response to the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages on claims of negligence, gender violence, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to the lawsuit, an investigation of the alleged assault never took place and IAC and Match “failed to interview a key eyewitness and ignored damning facts, because they did not want to risk their bottom line” and fired Pambakian last year.
“Rosette was a critical executive at Tinder and instrumental in the company’s phenomenal success,” said Elizabeth Graham, Pambakian’s attorney. “She had hoped that speaking out about the assault and its blowback would lead to positive change within the company and its leadership.”
Instead, Graham alleged, “Match and IAC launched a scorched-earth campaign against her. She has had time to reflect and to consider the impact these events have had on her — and her career — and realized that asserting her rights in court is the only way she will get justice.”
