Okayplayer and OkayAfrica have announced that they have severed all ties with their now former CEO and publisher, Abiola Oke. This news comes just days after a number of Black women who used to work for the brand alleged that the company fostered an unethical, toxic work environment.
“From 2015 to 2020, several Black Women working across Okayplayer and OkayAfrica were subject to a lack of support and resources, below market salaries, inadequate leadership, targeting and sabotage, slander, verbal abuse, inappropriate behavior, gaslighting, lack of empathy, manipulation, rationalizing poor or unethical conduct and wrongful termination,” former Okayplayer and OkayAfrica employees stated in an open letter.
It is not a coincidence that within a span of a year, 10 Black women (almost half of the company) either resigned or were terminated at OkayAfrica + Okayplayer. I was one of them. [2 THREADS]
— Olabisi Famakinwa (@ABisi123) June 23, 2020
“We take allegations the allegations that have surfaced very seriously. We have begun the process of engaging an outside advisor to review and investigate our current and past policies and practices,” Okayplayer and OkayAfrica stated.
Co-founder Questlove later added that there were “more announcements coming up.” He also noted that “this was long overdue.”
More details will be added to this story as it develops.
