michael ball / rock & republic sued for sexual harassment

[denimlover]

I wonder what the conservative department stores that carry Rock & Republic product will say about
the sexual harassment stuff going on inside this sleazy company? How can they endorse that?
Nicole Baros is only one of many. Others will come forward now. Shame on any department store who supports discrimination
and sexual abuse at the work place!

[hollywoodtv]

Michael Ball, CEO of fashion company Rock and Republic Enterprises, is going to be in a lot of trouble if the sexual harassment lawsuit obtained by TMZ is true. The suit was filed by a girl named Nicole Baros who interviewed with the CEO to be his personal assistant. During the interview, he asked if she had a boyfriend and things just went downhill from there.

Ball is accused of making unwanted sexual advances such as touching her hair or continuously staring at her T&A. He even told her at one point that he wanted to sleep with her. At the company Christmas party, Ball cornered the poor girl and attempted to kiss her before sliding his hand down her pants. In yet another incident, she went to his hotel room to get some company checks signed and he answered the door in his underwear then proceeded to chase her around the hotel room, finally physically tossing her on the bed.

If even a fraction of the first half of the report is true, then Ball is going down. If she manages to prove to the court the hands-down-the-pants and the bed-tossing then Ball is going to fry.

[fashiondrama]

Can we get this Michael Ball out of the industry asap? He's a horrible person, blackmails people, uses people, never pays people....he needs to go and everyone needs to see him for the true loser he is.

[deminlover]

Victoria Beckham is not looking good in this. In December she claimed that Michael Ball stole 92 million dollars
her but once Ball's criminal and violent character hit the national news she was eagerly trying to make everyone forget that she was fully
part of Rock & Republic. She is a coward and a hypocrite. She prefers to loose the money rather then answering uncomfortable
questions to the press about her relationship with Ball, and how much she knew about the sexual harassments, the immigration fraud, the
drugs for young models, the underaged "fit models" (hahaha) like Mia Weier!!!! all that going in on in Michael Ball's office while she was part of his operation. The longer Beckham waits
the worse it will look for her. Speak up now!

[dropping_the_Bal l]

To denimlover: I think you are totally right that department stores should take a look at this guy's reputation and how he has given Rock & Republic such a bad name.... but I don't think he has to just worry about "conservative" stores.. I think any store should have a problem with this womenizing jerk!!!

[deminlover]

As far as I know, most of the larger department store likes Saks and Bergdorf do have a zero tolerance policy for distributing and therefore profiting from companies where upper management engages in sexual harassment or like in Michael Ball's case, even questions of underaged sex with models have been raised. Nicole Baros is by far not the only
employee at R&R who was sexually harassed, and the others will likely speak up soon. Personally I think that R&R should be banned from NY fashion week. It is a huge embarrassment for great legendary designers
like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta to be seen in the same event as this man who really does not belong among legends. What is the CFDA thinking? Do not let this man tarnish a great institution.

[fashiondrama]

I also think Rock & Republic should be banned from NY Fashion Week.
He's bringing down the name of fashion!

[dropping_the_Bal l]

I totally agree! Showing his work along side these people would be disgraceful and bring down the integrity of the entire show! I think an indrustry that stands for appearance should take into consideration what showcasing a man like that would do for the image of fashion!

[TMZ]

more here:
http://www.topix.com/forum/who/victoria-beckh...

[denimlover]

New York Magazine review of the Rock & Republic spring/summer 08 show

The Collection for Prostitutes We've All Been Waiting For

( model is disgusted by these clothes.)

If you had told us yesterday that in 24 hours we'd be privy to a fashion show that made Kimora Lee Simmons look like Michael Kors, we'd have patted you on the back, poured you a cup of coffee, and called you a cab, because clearly you needed to go sleep it off.

But that was before we learned that the unofficial theme for Rock & Republic was "Pimps n' Hos." For serious: We're pretty sure that the only people buying the metallic hot pants, sheer leopard-print, fur-trimmed gowns, and something that we think might have involved the skin of a Muppet are actual, genuine whores.

There certainly weren't any celebrities at the show, because the only people desperate enough to feign interest in this train wreck were socialites. Tinsley Mortimer wasted a perfectly good out-of-character sleek ponytail on it and looked totally lost as she struggled to keep a politely straight face. Camilla al Fayed, two seats down, didn't even try, laughing with abandon toward the end when a girl came out wearing a cropped jacket and low-slung shorts that deliberately revealed the SEAM on her TIGHTS. For real. And then there were the footless tights worn as pants. And the neon. The NEON. Our eyes, they are still burning.

The whole thing was like Sienna Miller and Janice Dickinson had a threesome with Vince Neal in the Mötley Crüe heyday, and this collection was their demonic, deranged spawn. Except trashier.

Honestly, we're kind of scarred. We haven't seen this kind of horror — 72 separate, skanky looks! 72!— since the acid-washed craze swept our junior high. And just when we thought it was all over, it got worse: The models were forced out on the runway to drink Champagne very awkwardly with the designer (who came out to the weakest three-person ovation we've ever barely heard) and pretend to socialize, like the curtain call of a dinner-theater production of Cabaret directed by Lil' Kim. The bloody show just wouldn't end: After being assaulted by the tragedy against fabric and good taste that was the show itself, we all had to sit there and watch the greasy male models undulate, when all we wanted to do was get out of there and wash the skank off.

It might take all week.—The Fug Girls

[denim luver - ball hater]

DOWN WITH COCK & REPUBLIC !!!

michael ball is a disgrace to real designers who work hard and are trying to make an honest living...
yes men like women... its only natural... but for michael to force all his female employees to open their legs so he could squirt rock and republic infected nastiness all over them... just to make jokes about it and tell all the other employees who he fucked and who he fired because they didnt put out or they were lousey in the sack...
shame on him...
and if you read the court papers on TMZ.com
he bragged about his ongoing sexual relations with ex-employee GRACE... the poor girl named GRACE fell for his bullshit... got infected by him... lost her job... and now has been disGRACEd and must goto court and be embarrassed...
yes everyone and buyers should be aware of who he really is and what a disgusting company COCK and REPBULIC really is !!!

[Baller down]

Looks like Paris finally got the news on Michael Ball and stayed away from him like from the plague!! Says a lot when Paris doesn't want to have her picture taken!!
From page 6 of the NewYorkPost just out!

"PARTY girl Paris Hilton kicked off Monday night - which ended after 13 bottles of champagne - by "hosting" a charity event.... though she wasn't in a giving mood.
According to an insider, Hilton refused to be photographed at the Puck Building event with the AmFAR Rocks co-chairs from Rock & Republic, instead staying behind a velvet rope with her flack all night."

[fashiondiva]

This is so funny! More and more people are realizing how horrible Rock & Republic is.....

Party girl Paris Hilton kicked off Monday night - which ended after 13 bottles of champagne - by "hosting" a charity event, though she wasn't in a giving mood.
According to an insider, Hilton refused to be photographed at the Puck Building event with the AmFAR Rocks co-chairs from Rock & Republic, instead staying behind a velvet rope with her flack all night.

[PostMasta]

ROCK & REPUBLIC is going DOWN !!!

Michael Ball is a disgrace to the entire entertainment/fashion business!!!!!
People do crave SEX but for Michael to force all his female employees to open their legs just to make jokes about it and tell all the other employees who he fucked and who he fired because they didnt put out or they were lousey in the sack...WHAT AN A$$!!!!! If you read the court papers on TMZ.com he bragged about his ongoing sexual relations with ex-employee GRACE... the poor girl fell for his bullshit, got infected by him,lost her job, and now has been disGRACEd and must goto court and be embarrassed. Everyone should know of Michael Ball's wrong doing and point the finger at him! And NOW Paris finally got the news on Michael Ball and is staying FAR away from him. "PARTY girl Paris Hilton kicked off Monday night - which ended after 13 bottles of champagne - by "hosting" a charity event.though she wasn't in a giving mood. According to an insider, Hilton refused to be photographed at the Puck Building event with the co-chairs from Rock & Republic, instead staying behind a velvet rope with her flack all night." She thought by doing this Charity event she'd seem like a more responsible Good person but actually WOKE up to realize MICHAEL BALL IS SCUM!!!! The Absolute DIRT OF THE WORLD!!!

[cyclingfan]

MICHAEL BALL AND HIS DENIM LABEL RAPIST & REPUBLIC SHOCK THE PRO CYCLING WORLD
http://www.topix.com/forum/movies/celebrity/T...

[planitiff was the slut]

EXCERPTS FROM NICOLE BAROS SEXUAL HARASSMENT SUIT AGAINST MICHAEL BALL / ROCK & REPUBLIC



November 2006, Baros job interview... only lasted 5 minutes, during which time Ball asked plaintiff no work related questions. Rather, Ball asked plaintiff such questions as:“what background she was; what ethnicity she was and whether she had a boyfriend”. Baros began full time employment at Rock & Republic as a personal assistant to the CEO of the company, Michael Ball. Ball began subjecting Baros to a pattern of offensive and unwanted sexual behavior at work, including

(a) Walking up behind plaintiff at her desk and touching her hair

(b) Requesting plaintiff to turn around in front of him and show him how her clothing fit

(c ) Coming to the area where the plaintiff was working and telling her sexual comments and stories

(d) Continually staring at Baro’s breasts and butt

(e) The above conduct occurred at least several times between the time plaintiff was first started work at Rock & Republic and until the time she was “let go”. Defendant Ball gradually increased the frequency and the explicitness of the above sexual comments and actions. He began talking to Baros about how he wanted to sleep with her, and how some day she would.

8. Baros tried to discourage Ball’s remarks and conduct , asking him ..to stop, and suggesting she was uncomfortable with the advances and comments .. which Ball would make regarding his wanting to sleep with her.

At a holiday Christmas party, Ball cornered Baros into a room and attempted to kiss her. Ball then proceeded to stick his hand down plaintiff’s pants. Baros was frightened and intimidated by this assault and was at first unable to break away from Ball because of the way he was touching and holding her. Baros managed to walk out of the room where this incident took place. She immediately went home after this incident.

10. A week later, Baros went to Balls house to get him to sign some checks for the company. Ball answered his door in his boxers and told her to come into the bedroom so that he could sign the documents. Ball got into bed and asked Baros to join him. Plaintiff refused and sat on the floor, handing the checks to Ball to sign. Ball began talking to plaintiff about he had a lot of sex the night before, and continued to go into detail regarding his sexual relationship with an ex-employee of the company Grace. Baros told Ball that it was weird that he slept with his employees, and he replied that was not because he was not their boss outside of work. Ball continued to pressure Baros to get into bed with him and cuddle, but plaintiff refused because she was uncomfortable and went into the kitchen. Ball chased Baros around his apartment, grabbed her and threw her on his bed. He stated to Baros “you don’t have to have sex with me but one day you will”. Ball continued to talk about sex and said he thought Baros was a freak because she had a good figure. Plaintiff Baros yelled that she would never sleep with him.

11.Later that day, while Plaintiff and Ball were at the office, Michelle another personal assistant of Ball listed the name of people who were going to New York Fashion week. During this time, Ball looked at Baros and stated that Ashley, one of his personal was his “granola”, Marissa another personal assistant was the smart one, and plaintiff was the slut. Plaintiff asked Ball not to speak to her in this manner, and asked him to stop making those types of comments. Baros employment status and her job duties and opportunities to advance in the company were explicitly predicated on having sex with defendant, Ball. Since, plaintiff would not sleep with Ball, she was demoted and did not receive any substantial duties.

Two weeks later, Baros was let go and was told that there was not enough work for her.

[PaparazziPro]

LATIN SIREN BEDS TYCOON PLAYBOY AND SINGS TO FRIENDS
Insiders say that star-struck wannabe actress Fernanda Romero (mentioned in this lawsuit) couldn’t keep quiet about her new 'boyfriend' after a liaison with Justin Murdock. Was the romance real or was she just smitten with Justin’s million$? Makes you wonder if her gold digging and affairs upset her pizza boy husband. Pina Coladas for everyone!

[buttrfly]

michael ball is the most disgusting man I've ever met. All i can say is "karma is a bitch". He'll get his and I can't wait to see the day he begs the public to buy his jeans......all i know is all the designs are create by one amazing designer and his name ISN'T Michael Ball...

[ewwww]

What did this poor girl got infected with?

denim luver - ball hater wrote:

DOWN WITH COCK & REPUBLIC !!!
michael ball is a disgrace to real designers who work hard and are trying to make an honest living...
yes men like women... its only natural... but for michael to force all his female employees to open their legs so he could squirt rock and republic infected nastiness all over them... just to make jokes about it and tell all the other employees who he fucked and who he fired because they didnt put out or they were lousey in the sack...
shame on him...
and if you read the court papers on TMZ.com
he bragged about his ongoing sexual relations with ex-employee GRACE... the poor girl named GRACE fell for his bullshit... got infected by him... lost her job... and now has been disGRACEd and must goto court and be embarrassed...
yes everyone and buyers should be aware of who he really is and what a disgusting company COCK and REPBULIC really is !!!

[metalman]

I don't think sexual harassment is something that should be tolerated. But step back and take a more objective view of what is going on here. How many women have used sex as a way to get ahead in the industry, and the world for that matter. Then along comes a guy who knows how the system works, and tries to play that to his advantage. He gets crucified, but nobody ever says anything, about the women that use what men want, to get what they want. No wonder a lot of men get the wrong idea. I'm not saying Michael Ball is a saint, but in L.A. the casting couch is legendary. Besides, Kobe Bryant did far worse, and you still buy tickets to watch him play.