Months after Taylor Swift won her sexual assault trial, her convicted assaulter is being given a second chance at a career.
David Mueller, who was fired from his DJ job at a Denver radio station in 2013 after Taylor claimed he groped her during a concert meet-and-greet, has now been hired as a DJ at a Mississippi outlet. The Washington Post reports that the chief executive of the Greenwood-based radio station, Larry Fuss, fully believes David and not Taylor, which is primarily why he chose to hire him. (David was found guilty in his countersuit trial last August and was forced to pay a ceremonial $1 to Taylor as a result. He still denies any wrongdoing.)
“I sat down with him face-to-face in Minneapolis before I offered him the job and talked to him about it,” Fuss explained about his decision. “He’s either the world’s best liar, or he’s telling the truth. I tend to believe his version of the story and most people who have talked to him face-to-face do believe his version of the story.”
Unsurprisingly, Taylor’s fans have been rallying on Twitter to defend the artist and criticize Larry for hiring a convicted assaulter—in addition to David taking on the pseudonym of “Stonewall Jackson” for his newfound career. “To anyone who chose to ignore our reporting on how the country industry turns a blind eye to harassment and misconduct in country radio, here is more evidence. Shame on this station,” one user wrote. “Larry Fuss, #TimesUp. You might want to look into the hashtag,” another wrote. “Because I can tell you right now, the backlash you are receiving right now for your hiring decisions goes way beyond just Taylor Swift fans. This is about women, respect for women, and we will no longer be silent.”
“And yet another example of a man in power, a radio executive, who chooses to believe a man over a woman even after a jury of his peers found him guilty of sexual assault. Do not accept this offensive behavior, America. #timesup on sweeping sexual assault under the rug,” another added.