Co-owner of Middle East nightclub stepping down amid misconduct claims
Joseph Sater, one of two brothers who own the club, had been targeted on social media with allegations of sexual misconduct since the #MeToo movement began last October.
A co-owner of the famed Middle East nightclub in Cambridge is stepping down, citing persistent online allegations about him, which he denies, according to an announcement from the club’s owners posted on Facebook.
Joseph Sater, one of two brothers who own the club, had been targeted on social media with allegations of sexual misconduct since the #MeToo movement began last October.
Bands, DJs, and performers had called for a boycott of the club last year to stand in solidarity with alleged victims. But no victims came forward to speak out publicly, and those who boycotted knew few details of the allegations. The Cambridge police had not received a complaint.
The Globe interviewed an alleged victim, who chose not to speak publicly.
“Admittedly, it’s been challenging to find an appropriate way to respond to unsubstantiated third-party claims on social media,’’ the owners said in a statement. “We can say, unequivocally, that the allegations being spread online are absolutely not true and that just being publicly accused is absolutely devastating,’’ the owners said in a statement.
This story is developing.
