Part Two: Cancellation & Investigation

Master Sommelier Trades Pin for Integrity

The NYT November 2020 article caught the previous CMS BOD flat footed. Despite knowing about the article for months, the BOD refused to engage with the NYT and did not have much of a plan when the article was published. When I found out that I was one of the accused, I immediately went to the chairman and asked for the ethics committee to look into the accusations. The request was refused. The chairman at the time told me I was on my own and that the organization would wait to see the article before making any decisions on how to react.

Unfortunately, this strategy led to a social media fire storm that engulfed the former BOD and lead to their resignations. Prior to their departure, they posted a lengthy apology letter and set up a new hotline, which only added fuel to the fire. The emotional drama that ensued encouraged any disgruntled candidate to call the hot line to complain about any encounter, including trivial issues unrelated to sexual harassment. When the frenzy, settled there were a total of 25 complaints lodged against 22 masters (11 of whom were already named in the NYT article, the other 11 are unpublished).

The current BOD has provided no indication of the severity or frivolousness of the 25 complaints lodged. During the investigation, I was asked by the investigator what I knew about a number of these complaints. Several included men who felt they were being blackballed, one was against female MS who was watching a sporting event on her phone while proctoring an exam, and another that included a person who stated she “didn’t think the Master did anything wrong, but felt she should report it anyway.”

The current BOD is refusing to acknowledge the absurdity of some of the complaints levied. It would appear that they are exaggerating the issue and protecting the false NYT narrative. Why?

Calm Before the Storm

Prior to the article breaking, the NYT reached out to me via email. It was mortifying. The accusations made against me were damning, and unsettlingly vague. Without any details, it was difficult to respond. These were very serious allegations that needed to be handled with reverence and compassion. It would have been wrong for me to respond in any way that would vilify the accusers. My response to the NYT was as follows:

“With all due respect, I do not agree with the accusations levied by (the accusers). Nor is this the appropriate venue to address these accusations. These are very serious allegations, which I do not take lightly, and which should not be vetted through the press. The Court of Master Sommeliers has an active Ethics Committee, specifically suited to vet grievances concerning the Court of Master Sommeliers and levy disciplinary action. I feel (the accusers) should have submitted their grievances to the Ethics Committee where the matters could be fully investigated.”

The NYT response: “I certainly understand your objections, but I'm afraid they are beyond the scope of this correspondence… If you have specific responses or reactions to that reporting, please feel free to provide a statement.”

“Beyond the scope of this correspondence” ….  On the contrary, my concerns were at the heart of the correspondence. If these women felt they were wronged, I wanted them to have the opportunity to air their grievances beyond the court of public opinion. CMS ethics committee has previously prohibited MS’s from participating at CMS events, imposed long term suspensions that required proof of rehabilitation and even expelled members for misconduct.

Unfortunately, when the article was published, it was worse than expected. The vigilante journalism saw no bounds and used many vague and misleading details to build a case against the accused. I was embarrassed not only for the men, but also for the women as the article exposed several in a very poor light. Furthermore, the article irresponsibly associated the accusation of rape, a reprehensible crime, with the gross display of some inebriated adults making bad decisions at either GuildSomm or TexSom events. These two organizations are not regulated by CMS (see Harassment Enabling Organizations). The great majority of men and women in the hospitality industry are far more professional than what is portrayed in this article.

Life as a Pariah

When the article first broke, I was incredibly distraught and blamed myself for the accusations. I made up stories in my own mind to justify the perception that what the women stated was true. How could a person fabricate this out of thin air? The vagueness of the accusations and lack of any details of when or where allowed self-doubt to cloud my reasoning.

I took solace in the candidates that called expressing support, my family, and my partner. She was a rock. My partner is a strong, independent, and fierce woman, who helped me get out of my own head. Unfortunately, as the SM bullying began, the majority of the CMS membership distanced themselves from me. In fact, a large majority of the female Masters banded together to demand that the former BOD immediately strip all accused Masters of their titles without any due process. Many Masters and candidates began bullying anyone that dared expressed support for the accused or counter the narrative. One young woman called me in tears apologizing that she allowed a female Master to silence her support for me. This was not an isolated incident, as I have heard from many candidates who were intimidated into silence. The CMS BOD did nothing to quell the bullying or to stop Masters and candidates from spreading malicious rumors that further damaged the reputation of the accused.

Even today, nearly 18 months later, despite being vindicated by an impartial third-party review board, I am still being harassed in public and disinvited to events. The title Master Sommelier is now a liability. Several times this year while doing public events, I have been accosted by irate individuals who could not fathom that I still held a position in the industry. The misdirected and misinformed hatred has taken its toll, as the joy of life, wine, and food has faded. I have reduced the number of people with whom I interact and am cautious about which public events I attend.

Vindication, Pandering, and Lies

The current BOD held a townhall meeting in November 2021 to deliver the investigation results. It was an opportunity for them to correct the historical record, reiterate the positive impact the organization has had on the industry, and hold both aspiring candidates and masters to the very highest professional standard. Instead, it was a pathetic display of pandering to the accusers and social media mob. The accused – both vindicated and guilty alike - were all dehumanized as predators, while the accusers defined as survivors. It was obvious there was no hope for the accused when the BOD stated: “when lack of evidence was presented by the Master to prove their innocence, the word of the survivor was taken as truth.” The BOD then unceremoniously stripped six Masters of their titles. Mob justice was served, and current BOD was quick to claim credit. The entire event did a grave disservice to real victims of sexual harassment and abuse.

Despite the Shakespearian tragedy that unfolded at this townhall, the BOD seemed very excited to welcome me back. They sent an email stating that the BOD would like to hold a private listening session “to facilitate healing and restoration of your reputation amongst our membership as we are not just members, we are family”

I took the BOD at their word and decided to participate in the listening session. Preparing for the event was extremely emotional, and the presentation left me… vulnerable. I raised eight concerns that, if addressed, would not only prevent this tragedy from happening again, but also help serve to rebuild a bridge of trust. When the presentation was over, the BOD assured me they would review the issues and get back to me. Two months later, after no response, I followed up with the chairwoman who had no news. One month after that, I followed up again and still no feedback. After two additional months pass, it was obvious the BOD was not acting in good faith and would never make a public statement that I was vindicated. Nor will the BOD let the world know how many of the 25 accusations against others were either frivolous or unsubstantiated.

Nearly eight months after the “listening session” neither a single member on the BOD nor the CMS CEO has reached out about my concerns. Despite this inaction, the BOD is telling the membership that they are working in good faith to restore me as member in good standing. It is simply not true. This doublespeak, gaslighting and insincere action has only served to increase the public humiliation I have had to endure.

Closing

This once great institution has drifted far from its vision statement, which states that we set the global standard of excellence with integrity, exemplary knowledge, and humility. Integrity implies a “trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to their oath.” The BOD has not only intentionally deceived its members, candidates, and public by amplifying the misleading NYT article, but they have also actively taken credit for diversity work that was done prior to any of them taking a leadership role. It would appear that the current CMS board has confused righteous virtue with truthful humility and, in the process, sacrificed many good humans.

Although, I seek no vengeance and wish no ill will to any of the women or the current CMS BOD, I expect the attacks and demonization to come fast and furious. I did my best to speak honestly and passionately but with restraint and respect for the many involved. There where bad actors in the organization, and they have been exposed for what they are, predators. Unfortunately, that justice has been tainted by the injustice served to those wrongly accused.

Although the CMS board is eager to have me back as contributing member. I will not lend or sell out my integrity to be part of an organization led by people more interested in their personal SM image than transparency and truth. I am proud to a have served the organization for over 20 years. It wasn’t perfect, but I am humbled by the lives we change through the pursuit of excellence and will continue to live that vision on my own.