Self-help magnate Tony Robbins has issued a statement apologising for his disparaging comments on the Me Too movement, following criticism from the founder of the social justice endeavour.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Robbins apologised for using his stature as one of the planet’s most influential motivational speakers to criticise Me Too at a recent conference in San Jose.
Footage of the event showed audience member and sexual abuse survivor Nanine McCool challenge Robbins’ perception that some women were banding under the Me Too banner “to try to get significance by attacking and destroying somebody else.”
Robbins also initiated a confrontational physical demonstration with McCool, and recounted the story of a powerful male client who allegedly passed on hiring an highly qualified and physically attractive female staffer in favour of a male candidate, on the basis that it would be “too big of a risk.”
Life coach Tony Robbins says women are using #MeToo to make themselves ‘significant’ — but this brave sexual abuse survivor called him out pic.twitter.com/wYxhlmc10u
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 6, 2018
Tarana Burke, who initiated the Me Too movement, responded to the footage by saying Robbins’ “misogyny runs deep”.
Oh the video is MUCH worse. His misogyny runs deep. To even repeat that story of his ‘friend’ who wouldn’t hire the ‘pretty woman’ as if it’s the MOVEMENT’s fault and not the sexist man’s fault is all you need to hear. It’s deplorable. But SO many folks misunderstand this work.
— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) April 7, 2018
Now, Robbins says his comments “failed to reflect” his feelings towards Burke and the Me Too movement, and that his recent statement was not in keeping with his work with other survivors of abuse.
“I will never stop examining my own words and actions to make sure I am staying true to those ideals,” Robbins said.
“That begins with this brief statement but will not end until our goals are reached.”
You can read his full apology below:
