(This document attachment was received from the presumed personal email of Cortez Matthews. It was attached to the email as is with no name, address, phone number or other identifying factor on the attachment. Also attached to the email were screenshots of text messages between Cortez and “Gerry”. The Activision/Williams Lea laptop said the email came from “an external source” outside the company Activision. The email it came from appears to be a personal email address. The title of the attachment is as below but that title did not appear on the actual document. Grammar errors appear as they are in the original. July 13, 2022. Location: 2701 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, California. Robert Kotick is the CEO of Activision. Brian Smith is the Facilities Director of Activision. Chris Jenkins is the Supervisor/Williams Lea employee of Office Services and Hospitality. Jonathan Aldridge is the attorney for job agency Robert Half International. Other temporary job agency is Roth Staffing.
(Additional documents can be seen at https://businessservices2022.wixsite.com/website-1 )
“Incident Report Activision”
June 9th Thursday
A lot of the training today was Gerry and I working together, while my other employee, GELIA, was left alone to do other stuff. Gerry asked me several simple but intimate questions about my family and background, in which I did take part and some the conversation. He asked me to come over to his house after work so that we could “write together “ when he learned that I write scripts in my spare time. He suddenly became irritated and said he “needed a break” after I told him I had other plans and denied his offer.
Gerry saw that I needed to ask my supervisor, CHRIS JENKINS, a question after lunch. When Gerry questioned what the inquiry was specifically about, I explained that it had to do with adjusting my schedule so that I could work from 8 to 5 which is also his shift. He offered to switch our schedules but “I’ll have to pay him back someday”, he said. I carried on putting the cups away while he laughed. I tells him I like Chris and I think he’s a cool guy, in which he voices his dislike for Chris and Bobby, (mailroom) and then tells me how “he’s a cool guy also.”
While I was standing next to him stocking sodas, Gerry text me at random, saying “Change Of life.” I questioned him on his text to me. He then went on to discuss how many people’s perceptions of themselves “alter” between the ages of 28 and 32 and how they become more “free.” I said “I’ll look it up after work”, and then continued stocking the sodas in kitchen 2. (Screenshot).
During the last 30 to 45 mins of the day in Kitchen 1, Gerry began to talk about how his college friends thought he was a “goody two shoes” but that his peers were unaware of the “lifestyle” he was living during those years. Despite the fact that he continued bringing up the topic of “lifestyle” and wanted to talk about it, I made the decision to stay out of the conversation. I persisted in trying to steer the subject back to learning how to operate the coffee machine. When it was time to leave he asked me once more if I wanted to come over, but I once again denied his invitation. As I went to gather my stuff from the stockroom Gerry sent another text this time containing Two Books. He told me it was because I was funny and fun to be around.
June 10th, Friday
Gerry is still fixated on me, and he finds methods to keep us apart from my coworker, Gelia throughout the day. He occasionally text me in an effort to start a discussion when he is not there, but I only reply to work-related messages. (Screenshots are included).
Gerry discovered an opportunity for us to be alone again. He bought up the word “Lifestyle” again and this time he asked me whether I understood what he meant when he stated it the day before. I replied “I did not” and he said he was “Not Out Gay”, and that was the lifestyle he was alluding to. I tell him that I’m not going to judge him and that I appreciate him informing me even though he didn’t have to. I assure him that his secret is secure with me and I won’t tell anyone. He continued by saying that he doesn’t “shake around me” but that he generally does around guys who he is interested in (along with a story about one of his “hook ups”.) I was taken aback and asked him to repeat it, during which he continued “isn’t that crazy” I’m interested in you and I don’t shake around you “and chuckled. I replied him, I appreciate that but I am straight, despite the fact that I was plainly uncomfortable. He followed by asking if I had ever considered doing anything with a male? I was still a little taken aback so I took a moment to comprehend what was being stated before responding. “The delay tells it all”, he said before I could respond. I chuckled but I also confessed to him that I was still taken aback by what he had told me.
He then asked “Are things going to be weird between us now or has he ruined everything?” I told him that I have gay friends and family and that it doesn’t bother me, but that I am straight and apologized if I might have come off any other way for him to think otherwise. He told me it was no reason to apologize and asked for a highfive, in which I gave him.
June 13th Monday
My supervisor, CHRIS JENKINS, has a meeting with Gelia, Bobby (mailroom), Geary and myself and Kitchen 1. He informs Gerry that due to a change in his position, he will be mostly assisting Bobby and the Water Garden, the office across the street, and that he won’t be in touch much with Gelila and I in the coming weeks, unless we need him. Gerry is instructed to train me at the Water Garden the following morning considering I will be over there every Friday. Gerry approached me after the meeting and said “Guess I won’t be seeing you as much just when it started to get good”. I ignored the remark and went on to the stockroom.
Later in the morning, Gerry asked for him and I to go check the copy machines together. I didn’t like the idea of him and I going together and suggested that all 3 of us, Myself and Gelia, and Gerry go together so that we could all receive training on it at the same time. He refused, saying that “Bobby already trained her”. I knew this to be untrue. I responded by saying “Bobby hasn’t shown neither of us how to operate the machine”, to which he reacted angrily and rushed off, advising me to figure it out on my own. A short while afterwords, he text me, and we discussed the situation. Additionally he apologized in person and said he simply needed to go on a short break. (Screenshot).
He asked me; “Do I mind being in his car tomorrow, so we can drive to the Water Garden together”, I declined and told him I could just walk over there and meet him. He stated he was disappointed but will see me there tomorrow.
June 14th Tuesday
I called Gerry since I couldn’t find him at the Water Garden. “What’s crackin, good looking” he said as soon as he picked up the phone. His phone cut out before I could tell him where I was so I chose to text him instead. (Screenshot).
When at the Water Garden with Gerry, I was introduced to “Cliff?” He asked me about my other coworker Gelila because he met her before already. Cliff asked for my name once more as we were walking away, but I misheard and assumed he was asking for a Gelilia’s name. Gerry got irritated and said “Of course you’re thinking about her all the time, I am jealous of her”, I mistakenly asked the question of “Why?, and in which he told me because “She is so beautiful, and has it so easy because she’s a lady, I don’t like the way she works, she has a very interesting way of doing things”. I suggested that he talk to Chris or Gellia if he doesn’t like the way things are going on the team, but that I am not the person he should be voicing his concerns too about.
June 17th
Gerry texts me that there is a package downstairs for us, I go down, to find out there is nothing. He stated “At least I got to see you.”
June 30th
After lunch I remind Gerry, face-to-face, that I will be going to the Water Garden, tomorrow since it’s Friday. He says OK and that I should remind him every Thursday, in which I tell him I don’t think that’s necessary. He later text me in the afternoon
“OK I will be in at nine tomorrow. Geary Juan Johnson. Sleep tight!”
I do not respond (Screenshots).
July 1 Friday
I was making an inventory list while sitting in the stock room as I prepared to depart to go to the Water Garden. Gerry arrived and attempted to start a discussion but I did not engaged
“Have a lovely weekend, go get married!” He laughed, waited for a response or reaction and proceeded to walk away.
July 7th Monday
Gerry winked at me as I cracked the joke, “The gang is all back together “. Gerry came up to me in kitchen 3 upstairs kitchen doing Gelila break and asked “if I’m cutting my beard anytime soon”. I reply that I usually do so every week and that I’m overdue for another trim. Before I could respond he said “That you look good no matter what” and before I could answer he added “I wonder what would happen if I met a guy like you outside of work”. I told him that I have no idea and that I would appreciate if he stopped telling me those type of comments. I walked down to the stock room before he could speak.
July 8th Friday
Together with Bobby, Gerry, Gelela and I set up shelves in the lobby of the office. Once more concentrating on helping me, Gerry continued to touch/ make contact with my hands as I arranged the black tubes on the shelf. Given his weird comments I felt uncomfortable and asked him to stop touching me because of COVID.
Gerry came over after building the shelves and apologized for “losing his temper” with me , during it. He didn’t do anything of the sort, which confused me to the max. I inquired what he was alluding to and I also added that, “I think you guys might mistake my monotonous voice occasionally as upset or something” to which he reacted harshly by me using the term “you guys” and advised me not to include Gelela in the same category as himself. He then went on to say “I was just apologizing because I care about you as a person and your feelings, and” I walked away before he could finish his sentence.
When Gerry sees me alone, he always approaches, when I saw him in the video studio room, I took out my camera to capture him attempting to approach me, but I moved away quickly before he could approach. (Video)
Working together, Gerry Gelila and I name tag each desk in the office. To finish my day and switch off the machines, I had to walk across the street to the Water Garden. I asked Gellia and Gerry in a GROUP CHAT text message to place the unfinished name tags in the stockroom so we can all find it on Monday a.m. because our supervisor Chris mentioned how important it is that we finish by Monday. Gerry responded to the text outside of the group chat thread, and says
“You have a good weekend also, take charge person”.
I ignore the text and reply to Gellia text in the group chat. Gerry text me again about 10 minutes later he claims that “he is not using his personal phone for business anymore” after realizing that I responded to Gellia’s text rather than his. Despite my confusion, I texted back “if he ever does need to contact anyone regarding business to use the Group Chat so we all are on the same page.” (Screenshot)
I had about 15 more mins left in my shift after going to the Water Garden and turning off the machines. I walked back over to the Pen factory and unfortunately ran into Gerry.
He tells me that he thinks Gellia likes me, “maybe not romantically” but that I turn her on by my “mystery”. He then proceeds to tell me the exact opposite of what he said in the text. He tells me that he thinks we need to communicate more and that he doesn’t think the group chat is the best idea when he needs to singularly contact one of us. I listen to him and then left (Audio).
July 11th
Gerry, Gelila and myself work upstairs and Kitchen 3, continuing the name tags. Gerry asks how my weekend was without asking Gellia as well. I make the choice to bring her into the discussion in which shortly after, in the middle of the project Chris asked us to do, Gerry decides to randomly go downstairs, only to mysteriously return when it was time for a Gellia to go on her ten mins break. He asked did I shave my beard this weekend. This time I was very stern with him and told him to stop making inappropriate comments and questions to me or else I would have to involve someone else. I told him I’ve been uncomfortable from the jump, had enough and that he should know better. I asked that he only speaks to me about business stuff from that day further. He muttered something under its breath before getting to his feet and leaving. He avoided a contact with me for the remainder of the day.
The Gerry Johnson response
(Editor note: This response was not given to Cortez Mathews. It may appear elsewhere on the internet. This is part of my response; another part of my response appears in video format at the Youtube title:
Title: “The new video game and my response to the allegations” ).
from Geary J. Johnson
1522 Hi Point St 9
Los Angeles CA 90035
323-807-3099
JULY 15, 2022
CORTEZ MATTHEWS IS SCARY
I take a moment to comment on the deranged narrative of Cortez Mathews that was forwarded to me by Cortez on July 13, 2022 by company email.
I think the work environment at Williams Lea/Activision is that the best liar will get the award, and Cortez certainly deserves that award. He claims to be a little bit smart but he could not write such a diatribe without someone’s else’s help and that is clear from the writing that perhaps a lawyer or Activision employee helped him.
Much of the narrative is the twisting of very non-offensive or innocuous comments from me alleged by Cortez based on conversations that he cannot prove occurred in the way he stated.
Security cameras could shed a lot of light on Cortez because they will show the many times that he greeted me in the lobby area with a friendly raised hand waive as he walked with Robert Half employee Gelela.
My schedule during much of the time was as such:
I arrive at 8 am at the Water Garden which is not the same building Cortez is in. Around 9 am or a little after, I arrived at Penn Factory (where Cortez is), having waited to make sure all the coffee machines are running smoothly and properly. I was instructed to assist Bobby with the busy mailroom and also to assist Gelila and Cortez if they ask me, which was rare. But being that there are four kitchens and stock comes thru the front door, I am bound to run into Gelelia or Cortez at some point, but not always. Around 12 noon – 1 pm I take my lunch at Water Garden, 1:00 – 2:00 pm clean two machines and check the stock, return to Penn Factory between 2:30 pm to 3:30 to assist anyone and then back to Water Garden to clean more machines until 5:00 pm. With that schedule you can see that most of my time is away from the building which makes Cortez story suspect. When he quotes and misconstrues text messages, I guess he forgets I have the same text messages on my phone which prove the delusion and dysfunctional conduct he is engaged in. So basically the little time I have to assist with the hospitality (Cortez and Gelelia) is 9-12 and 2:30 to 3:30 unless I am pulled away. So out of an eight hour day, less than four hours am I at the Penn Factory to engage in the conduct Cortez alleges after the first week of training. The Penn Factory is a big location with four kitchens. It can take about five minutes to walk between kitchens and of course any rational person may engage in chit chat as they are walking or see another co-worker; not unusual. Chris would one week tell me to transfer stock from one site to the Water Garden two kitchens, but a week later he would tell me not to, then the next week he would change back, thus I had a reason to be in the Penn Factory stock room. It is suspect that Cortez never mentions the numerous business conversations we had related to job duties. The Hidden Agenda of Cortez from day one.
Mathews has always been the aggressor where the personal conversations have occurred and I have been the one who initiated business talks. There was a conversation early on in the kitchen where Gellela had left for the day and Cortez and I were talking as we waited for the coffee machines to finish cleaning. I thought at the time it was a mutual conversation in which he asked more questions than I; I would not have imagined his twisted mind would have come up with his narrative which only occurs after I made a sexual harassment complaint against him. Numerous security guards saw Cortez frequently give me a friendly waive or hello while passing thru the lobby almost on a daily basis. Why would you wave at someone if you allege they made you feel uncomfortable?
I was with Gelela and Cortez for a whole week not as he would like to think because I was stalking him, but because I was assigned by Chris to train both of them for the whole week. I was exhausted by week’s end because often times Gelela exhibits she was not listening, did not hear me or plain walked away. They both were stubborn in their own way, both saying at times could they change things around before I could even get the training out. Both wanted to be in change of me in their own way, and I tried hard to make them realize the only supervisors were Bobby and Chris. We all agreed that Bobby seemed to be more organized than Chris, but this could have been because Chris for whatever reasons was frequently MIA. My duties changed a little after Cortez and Gelela started employment, but I believe I was still expected to be available to assist with mailroom, hospitality, stock including coffee and drinks and snacks and supplies. If I walked thru the building and saw something out of place, I would let Bobby, Chris, Gelela, or Cortez know, which I perceived was being a team player.
Numerous times (seven or eight) Cortez’ comment to me was whether on personal or business matters: “Thank you so much, I appreciate that, I really do.” Which I am sure was heard by others. He never expressed any displeasure with what I was telling him, although there were a few times he snapped at me again feeling that he was somehow the one in charge.
Most times he walked around with air pods and I realize now he was recording me without my permission and against company policy—-by his own words—- and he also had the intent to videotape other employees around him, an invasion of their privacy, such videotaping stated in his own words in his narrative. What a dangerous person.
The man has a screw loose upstairs. He admitted as much when he volunteered that he did not talk until he was five years old. I thought it strange at aged 29 he is still worried about that as his main priority and the first thing out of his mouth. I am not objecting to any perceived mental illness or disability but I am trying to comprehend the intent for his contradictory, false and dramatic narrative.
He twice showed irritation when I left an area and did not come back to help him and Gelela. There are many contradictions in his narrative. He claims he did not like talking to me or tried to push me away but in over 30 days he never expressed this displeasure to anyone, but claims he told me, which was not true unless I was to interpret “Thank you so much. I really appreciate that” with a big smile, as displeasure.
No one ever forced him to talk or listen to me. He could have walked away at any time but did not.
He said he liked talking to me about personal stuff because he likes figuring people out as he was a psychology major at USC. He said his Dad is a lawyer and Mom a psychiatrist but I sensed he had a low opinion of them. He claimed he used his skills to figure out that Gelilia and I were both too sensitive. I objected to that because how could he compare me to her when he sees her all day and me only part of the day. He said he had me figured out the week I was training him. (And I guess that is when he started audio taping me or keeping a journal).
He expressed anger when I said I would be right back and had went to see Chris and Bobby grabbed me for errands. He was angry that I did not come back to help him and Gelela, like he acted like a little kid temper tantrum. He felt I had some type of obligation; I explained to him that he was not my supervisor. It seems even more strange now that he wanted me back to the area so bad but his narrative shows just the opposite that he supposedly wanted to get away from me. He has a memory of convenience. I doubt very seriously if he could repeat his narrative to my face because he had help writing it. You can see it from the writing style.
You can ask witnesses like Gelilia and others did they see any discomfort occur between us. Numerous times he would see me and in front of Gelelia say, “Geary, I like that outfit. Those are some sharp pants” or “I like that shirt” as he looked down at my crotch. I acknowledged the compliment. I paid him no mind except for when he asked me my sexual preference, and that bothered me.
I interpreted him to be a smiling but very cold person who was irritated by Gelela and my sensitivity which I felt another way of him saying he wanted to do things his own way without someone questioning his lack of feeling or organization towards what he was doing. That led to the conversation where I said innocently that I was not speaking sexually but that Gelela liked him for his intellect and she was curious about his lack of feeling towards her organizational ideas. I did not get the impression at the time he took it the wrong way but I can see that his narrative shows he did not care whether he told the truth or not about his reaction to what I said. It was a mutual conversation about work relationships which I think anyone could have the same conversation.
I respond to the 26 paragraphs of the Cortez narrative.
Figure how much time did this guy spend taking notes of all these conversations? Or taping them for his parents?
1. I never asked to come over his house. I never became irritated because the conversation never occurred. Strange he would think he would be worthy of that question.
2. I never said anything about him “paying me back”. His paragraph is jumbled.
3. This occurred as I was training him. IMO non-offensive. The words he claim I said never occurred as he stated them. I am not sure what he means I texted him at “random” since he freely gave me his cell phone number.
4. He initiated the conversation by asking “I prefer women. What is your sexual preference?” (That would later become my only complaint against him.) None of the rest of the conversation he claims ever occurred. I never told him he was funny and fun to be around. I notice he does not say I grabbed him in the butt or tried to stick potato chips up his ass which is curious to me because he is fabricating everything else, why not that.
5. I walk around the building looking for things to do or help with. That is my job. So in Cortez’ warped mind, that means I am fixated on him and I find methods to keep him apart from Gelela. Paranoia by Cortez.
6. “Geary discovered an opportunity for us to be alone again.” How does Cortez incompetent lawyer arrive at that conclusion? The conversation did not occur. Cortez says , “I am not going to Judge him and that I appreciate him informing me even though he didn’t have to.” That statement seems to contradict the intent of his whole narrative. He is afraid of me but not afraid of me. He says, “despite the fact I was plainly uncomfortable.” The rest of the conversation never occurred and I doubt we exchanged a “high five” is contradictory because he said that I should not touch him.
7. June 13: I never made any statement about I would not be seeing him as much etc. But in his fantasy world, that is what he believes happened.
8. The conversation did not occur as he stated, but if he was uncomfortable, he could have asked someone else to train him. This was another area where he wanted as a kid to have things his own way and did not appreciate my exercise of discretion that Gelielia was not as trainable as he seemed to be ( she was not listening or could not hear me). I never apologized to him about going on a short break, of which I do not need his permission.
9. Yes I did offer him a ride across the street since we were going the same way. It seemed to be a well meaning offer at the time. I did not comment that I was disappointed, as he fantasizes.
10. June 14. I never said to Cortez, “What’s crackin’, good looking.” It is his fantasy that he looks good.
11. The conversation as he relates it never occurred.
12. June 17. I never said “At least I got to see you.” That I believed there was a package for the stockroom was completely reasonable and a part of my job duties to inform him as a team member.
13. June 30. Actually on another day he did remind me on a Thursday. On Thursday, June 23 at 3:23 pm. he texted me, “Reminder that I am coming in 8-5 tomorrow.” I replied, “Okay, thanks.” He does not seem to take offense based on that text message.
14 and 15. He did no respond. So what is his point? He and Gelelia frequently did not respond to my business related texts which would defeat the purpose of teamwork. I have numerous phone calls from him and her on my phone.
16. Jul 1. I did not realize Cortez had his apple pods on nor did I realize he was in the stockroom until I got there. Sometimes him and Gelelia want to be the one person show. I did say have a good weekend and for fun, “maybe you will get married” and he looked and acknowledged and laughed as much as he could with the airpods on. Seems I was cordial and professional, which may not be good enough at Activision. Cortez references a text message where I say at 3:47 pm “You have a good weekend, take charge person.” (IMO a compliment that he has management skills). He does not find the comment offensive because his text in return begins “Cool”. No offense is taken by Cortez.
17. Jul. 7. I never winked at Cortez, but we see that was his fantasy. He did not seem to be joking as he said (and other times also) that it was good to see all four of us back together. But there is another contradiction in his own words; why would you even joke about that if you are so intent on keeping me away from you? I did comment on his beard and his response was, “Thank you. I appreciate that. I really do. “ Robotic. No, he never expressed displeasure about those comments. Yes, numerous times Cortez expressed that Gelelia, he and I should meet every morning at 9 to go over the days tasks, but even after that was cut short by a change in duties, Cortez insisted that we still meet. Contradictory to his narrative.
18. Jul 8. Bobby assigned me to help. If Cortez claimed he was so uncomfortable at that point, he should have sought another assignment. Touchy like a five year old kid. He did not express discomfort about any accidental touching which I witnessed Bobby accidentally touched him also. What comments of mine were weird?
19. That conversation did not occur.
20. Cortez admits to attempting an illegal video tape for which he should be fired. How does he distinguish that when I see him alone, I “ALWAYS” approach? Are there any times when he is with Gelela that I approach. The guy is paranoid.
21. My reply sent to Cortez, as on my phone, says sent 4:09 pm and says “Good idea. Regards.” My impression was that he and Gelela were irritated that I refused to use my personal cell phone for company business, a violation of state law of sorts.
22. (“I had”). Why does he say “unfortunately”? Where did he expect me to be since I was there assigned to clean the machines? If he was so concerned, he could have stayed at the Water Garden. Fabrication.
23. (“He tells”). This was the end of the conversation where he had started it saying Gelela and I were too sensitive. So he opened the door to that. I never said he and I need to communicate more and I never said I disagree with the group chat. Paranoid.
24. Jul 11. Why is he worried about me not asking Gelela about her weekend? Is he a control freak? What does he mean I “randomly” went downstairs like he is my Daddy or something? I told them I would be right back but why does he not accept that? He feels I “mysteriously” returned. What is mysterious about being at work taking a break and running into a co-worker? The rest of the conversation never occurred as he relates it. Never occurred. Paranoid. But what did occur was that he was very upset when I returned that I did not come back right away; I explained I was called away by Bobby and talking to Chris. He was like a little kid with a temper tantrum that he said he saw me walking with the cart and that I did not tell them, as he said it to me. Unrealistic expectations.
He complains about text messaging between us that occurred on our personal cell phones, forced to use because the company would not supply company cell phones.
I remind you that no one asked me my opinion of Mathews narrative because I was removed from the position in an immediate manner about 12 noon on July 13.
It is an interesting narrative like someone writing a bad play, something that Cortez and maybe an Activision executive cooked up because they figured no one would question it.
Cortez Mathews was a Robert Half International employee at the time of his conduct. I believe someone higher up put him up to his surveillance of me to get me removed from the job.
He is a drama queen and maybe as they say “down low”. I don’t object to what he is, but just from his narrative, his conduct has caused problems in the workplace.
Note that after all that complaining by Cortez alleged, he never mentions that he reported his complaint to anyone else but me.
I stand by everything I said to him as perfectly normal and non-offensive. But I do not agree with his fabrications. You can tell from his text messages that someone else wrote the narrative. He even “outs” his own family members and friends, so he is a drama queen.
Note his writing based on writing style in text messages. His narrative sent to mailroom for company wide distribution. Cortez said his former lover was transgender. At one point he took his AirPods off saying for me to wait because “I want to hear what you have to say.”
IMO he indicates I apologized over certain incidents. My recall is this was over labor code requirements I bought to his attention and I thought I had misinterpreted what he was saying. Cortez responded that there was no need to apologize because he did not feel I did anything wrong.
A drama queen fabricates things for attention.
Dates reported from me and to whom:
It is around June 20 I had reported the sexual harassment by Cortez to Roth Staffing (Brooke Terrell) and Williams Lea company (onsite supervisor Christopher “Chris” Jenkins) . The sexual harassment had occurred around June 9. A few days after that, I reported the same to Robert Half temp agency and Williams Lea attorney Steven Eichel. I believe Activision employees Brian Smith and Robert A. Kotick were aware of my complaints about sexual harassment, labor code violations of not provided tools to do the job, unsanitary food handling, putting a vacuum cleaner into the coffee beans, keeping food out past the safe time period, unsafe milk temperature, etc. or they should have been aware.
Roth staffing had threatened to end my assignment once I complained and on July 13 Roth staffing announced by phone call that my assignment had ended immediately by Williams Lea, with my complaints still pending. (As I have heard some spread the rumor that I was fired, which is a false statement.) I believe the delusional narrative of Cortez was written by someone else as result of my complaint against Cortez. Location 2701 Olympic Blvd Santa Monica California.
Employees should not be allowed to ask “what is your sexual preference” in the workplace. Employees should not be allowed to tape record or video other employees without their permission. Audio recordings should be turned over to the appropriate government agency.
Employees should not be denied the tools to do their job, for example denied company supplied cell phones.
JULY 15, 2022.
The strike-thru
Version of what Cortez Claims
(Editor Note: I provide below a strike-thru version crossing out statements in the Cortez narrative that did not occur or occurred differently than he stated like a conversation that occurred on one day that Cortez has split into three separate days. I find it interesting that on the majority of other work days—about 15—Cortez appears to work with “Gerry” without any problems.)
“Incident Report Activision”
June 9th Thursday
A lot of the training today was Gerry and I working together, while my other employee, GELIA, was left alone to do other stuff. Gerry asked me several simple but intimate questions about my family and background, in which I did take part and some the conversation. He asked me to come over to his house after work so that we could “write together “ when he learned that I write scripts in my spare time. He suddenly became irritated and said he “needed a break” after I told him I had other plans and denied his offer.
Gerry saw that I needed to ask my supervisor, CHRIS JENKINS, a question after lunch. When Gerry questioned what the inquiry was specifically about, I explained that it had to do with adjusting my schedule so that I could work from 8 to 5 which is also his shift. He offered to switch our schedules but “I’ll have to pay him back someday”, he said. I carried on putting the cups away while he laughed. I tells him I like Chris and I think he’s a cool guy, in which he voices his dislike for Chris and Bobby, (mailroom) and then tells me how “he’s a cool guy also.”
While I was standing next to him stocking sodas, Gerry text me at random, saying “Change Of life.” I questioned him on his text to me. He then went on to discuss how many people’s perceptions of themselves “alter” between the ages of 28 and 32 and how they become more “free.” I said “I’ll look it up after work”, and then continued stocking the sodas in kitchen 2. (Screenshot).
During the last 30 to 45 mins of the day in Kitchen 1, Gerry began to talk about how his college friends thought he was a “goody two shoes” but that his peers were unaware of the “lifestyle” he was living during those years. Despite the fact that he continued bringing up the topic of “lifestyle” and wanted to talk about it, I made the decision to stay out of the conversation. I persisted in trying to steer the subject back to learning how to operate the coffee machine. When it was time to leave he asked me once more if I wanted to come over, but I once again denied his invitation. As I went to gather my stuff from the stockroom Gerry sent another text this time containing Two Books. He told me it was because I was funny and fun to be around.
June 10th, Friday
Gerry is still fixated on me, and he finds methods to keep us apart from my coworker, Gelia throughout the day. He occasionally text me in an effort to start a discussion when he is not there, but I only reply to work-related messages. (Screenshots are included).
Gerry discovered an opportunity for us to be alone again. He bought up the word “Lifestyle” again and this time he asked me whether I understood what he meant when he stated it the day before. I replied “I did not” and he said he was “Not Out Gay”, and that was the lifestyle he was alluding to. I tell him that I’m not going to judge him and that I appreciate him informing me even though he didn’t have to. I assure him that his secret is secure with me and I won’t tell anyone. He continued by saying that he doesn’t “shake around me” but that he generally does around guys who he is interested in (along with a story about one of his “hook ups”.) I was taken aback and asked him to repeat it, during which he continued “isn’t that crazy” I’m interested in you and I don’t shake around you “and chuckled. I replied him, I appreciate that but I am straight, despite the fact that I was plainly uncomfortable. He followed by asking if I had ever considered doing anything with a male? I was still a little taken aback so I took a moment to comprehend what was being stated before responding. “The delay tells it all”, he said before I could respond. I chuckled but I also confessed to him that I was still taken aback by what he had told me.
He then asked “Are things going to be weird between us now or has he ruined everything?” I told him that I have gay friends and family and that it doesn’t bother me, but that I am straight and apologized if I might have come off any other way for him to think otherwise. He told me it was no reason to apologize and asked for a highfive, in which I gave him.
June 13th Monday
My supervisor, CHRIS JENKINS, has a meeting with Gelia, Bobby (mailroom), Geary and myself and Kitchen 1. He informs Gerry that due to a change in his position, he will be mostly assisting Bobby and the Water Garden, the office across the street, and that he won’t be in touch much with Gelila and I in the coming weeks, unless we need him. Gerry is instructed to train me at the Water Garden the following morning considering I will be over there every Friday. Gerry approached me after the meeting and said “Guess I won’t be seeing you as much just when it started to get good”. I ignored the remark and went on to the stockroom.
Later in the morning, Gerry asked for him and I to go check the copy machines together. I didn’t like the idea of him and I going together and suggested that all 3 of us, Myself and Gelia, and Gerry go together so that we could all receive training on it at the same time. He refused, saying that “Bobby already trained her”. I knew this to be untrue. I responded by saying “Bobby hasn’t shown neither of us how to operate the machine”, to which he reacted angrily and rushed off, advising me to figure it out on my own. A short while afterwords, he text me, and we discussed the situation. Additionally he apologized in person and said he simply needed to go on a short break. (Screenshot).
He asked me; “Do I mind being in his car tomorrow, so we can drive to the Water Garden together”, I declined and told him I could just walk over there and meet him. He stated he was disappointed but will see me there tomorrow.
June 14th Tuesday
I called Gerry since I couldn’t find him at the Water Garden. “What’s crackin, good looking” he said as soon as he picked up the phone. His phone cut out before I could tell him where I was so I chose to text him instead. (Screenshot).
When at the Water Garden with Gerry, I was introduced to “Cliff?” He asked me about my other coworker Gelila because he met her before already. Cliff asked for my name once more as we were walking away, but I misheard and assumed he was asking for a Gelilia’s name. Gerry got irritated and said “Of course you’re thinking about her all the time, I am jealous of her”, I mistakenly asked the question of “Why?, and in which he told me because “She is so beautiful, and has it so easy because she’s a lady, I don’t like the way she works, she has a very interesting way of doing things”. I suggested that he talk to Chris or Gellia if he doesn’t like the way things are going on the team, but that I am not the person he should be voicing his concerns too about.
June 17th
Gerry texts me that there is a package downstairs for us, I go down, to find out there is nothing. He stated “At least I got to see you.”
June 30th
After lunch I remind Gerry, face-to-face, that I will be going to the Water Garden, tomorrow since it’s Friday. He says OK and that I should remind him every Thursday, in which I tell him I don’t think that’s necessary. He later text me in the afternoon
“OK I will be in at nine tomorrow. Geary Juan Johnson. Sleep tight!”
I do not respond (Screenshots).
July 1 Friday
I was making an inventory list while sitting in the stock room as I prepared to depart to go to the Water Garden. Gerry arrived and attempted to start a discussion but I did not engaged.
“Have a lovely weekend, go get married!” He laughed, waited for a response or reaction and proceeded to walk away.
July 7th Monday
Gerry winked at me as I cracked the joke, “The gang is all back together “. Gerry came up to me in kitchen 3 upstairs kitchen doing Gelila break and asked “if I’m cutting my beard anytime soon”. I reply that I usually do so every week and that I’m overdue for another trim. Before I could respond he said “That you look good no matter what” and before I could answer he added “I wonder what would happen if I met a guy like you outside of work”. I told him that I have no idea and that I would appreciate if he stopped telling me those type of comments. I walked down to the stock room before he could speak.
July 8th Friday
Together with Bobby, Gerry, Gelela and I set up shelves in the lobby of the office. Once more concentrating on helping me, Gerry continued to touch/ make contact with my hands as I arranged the black tubes on the shelf. Given his weird comments I felt uncomfortable and asked him to stop touching me because of COVID.
Gerry came over after building the shelves and apologized for “losing his temper” with me , during it. He didn’t do anything of the sort, which confused me to the max. I inquired what he was alluding to and I also added that, “I think you guys might mistake my monotonous voice occasionally as upset or something” to which he reacted harshly by me using the term “you guys” and advised me not to include Gelela in the same category as himself. He then went on to say “I was just apologizing because I care about you as a person and your feelings, and” I walked away before he could finish his sentence.
When Gerry sees me alone, he always approaches, when I saw him in the video studio room, I took out my camera to capture him attempting to approach me, but I moved away quickly before he could approach. (Video)
Working together, Gerry Gelila and I name tag each desk in the office. To finish my day and switch off the machines, I had to walk across the street to the Water Garden. I asked Gellia and Gerry in a GROUP CHAT text message to place the unfinished name tags in the stockroom so we can all find it on Monday a.m. because our supervisor Chris mentioned how important it is that we finish by Monday. Gerry responded to the text outside of the group chat thread, and says
“You have a good weekend also, take charge person”.
I ignore the text and reply to Gellia text in the group chat. Gerry text me again about 10 minutes later he claims that “he is not using his personal phone for business anymore” after realizing that I responded to Gellia’s text rather than his. Despite my confusion, I texted back “if he ever does need to contact anyone regarding business to use the Group Chat so we all are on the same page.” (Screenshot)
I had about 15 more mins left in my shift after going to the Water Garden and turning off the machines. I walked back over to the Pen factory and unfortunately ran into Gerry.
He tells me that he thinks Gellia likes me, “maybe not romantically” but that I turn her on by my “mystery”. He then proceeds to tell me the exact opposite of what he said in the text. He tells me that he thinks we need to communicate more and that he doesn’t think the group chat is the best idea when he needs to singularly contact one of us. I listen to him and then left (Audio).
July 11th
Gerry, Gelila and myself work upstairs and Kitchen 3, continuing the name tags. Gerry asks how my weekend was without asking Gellia as well. I make the choice to bring her into the discussion in which shortly after, in the middle of the project Chris asked us to do, Gerry decides to randomly go downstairs, only to mysteriously return when it was time for a Gellia to go on her ten mins break. He asked did I shave my beard this weekend. This time I was very stern with him and told him to stop making inappropriate comments and questions to me or else I would have to involve someone else. I told him I’ve been uncomfortable from the jump, had enough and that he should know better. I asked that he only speaks to me about business stuff from that day further. He muttered something under its breath before getting to his feet and leaving. He avoided a contact with me for the remainder of the day.
LA Rent Control (RAC) and Permits (LADBS) 