Ask Alex - Co-working Blackmailing Me Over Girls Gone Wild Past

Hi Alex, I have a really big, potentially career destroying problem. About ten years ago, while I was on Spring Break, I was filmed topless and drunk and ended up on a girls gone wild video. My college is listed. Thankfully my name isn’t on it, but I am right there, dancing around in bikini bottoms and nothing else. Not my proudest moment.

A couple weeks ago, one of the guys who is on my team started making weird, sexual comments to me when he passed my office or when we were alone in the elevator. At first I just thought he was really bad at pick up lines. So I pulled him aside and said that I was flattered, but I didn’t want to date anyone at work. He said that I should really reconsider and revealed that he had seen someone who looked like me on Girls Gone Wild, he asked a friend of his who attended the same college that I did, who confirmed the dumb, naked, drunk girl was me.  He actually said, “I would hate to accidentally let it slip out at a meeting that you were an embarrassing, drunk whore and the only way that I can know for sure that you aren’t is if you and I spend more time together.” I was dumbfounded.

Now what do I do? I mean obviously I am not interested in dating him. But, I don’t want to lose my job.  – Laura

PR & Crisis Management expert, Alexandrea Merrell answers question about stalking, bullying, online harassment, and hate campaigns, and helps adults deal with personal and professional reputation crises to ultimately rebuild a stronger, more resilient, and joyful brand and life. AlexandreaMerrell.com