Questlove, the co-founder of Okayplayer, responded to the team of Black women affiliated with the company who called for the removal of CEO Abiola Oke.
Things are shaking up over at Okayplayer. The digital online community founded by Questlove and Angela Nissel has been in operation since the late 1990s, and while it seems to be an inclusive, unproblematic company thus far, a number of women have banded together to release a statement about CEO Abiola Oke.
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Journalist Ivie Ani shared the message to her Twitter account, stating that from 2105 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.” They called for the dismissal of Oke, and Questlove wasted no time in issuing a response.
“Effective immediately, we have severed all ties and accepted the resignation of Abiola Oke as CEO and Publisher of Okayplayer and OkayAfrica,” Questlove wrote in a statement shared to Instagram. “We take the allegations that have surfaced very seriously, and we stand with the brave women who came forward. We have begun the process of engaging an outside advisor to review and investigate our current and past politics and practices. We’re committed to creating a work environment that’s inclusive and respectful for all.”
Read through both messages in full below.