The Wing Co-founder Admits to Social Inequality

Audrey Gelman, the previous Chief Executive Officer of The Wing who stepped down in June, recently shared a letter addressed to former employees of the company. Within the letter, Gelman expressed regret for not adequately addressing instances of mistreatment experienced by women of color while at The Wing. She also stated that the emphasis on rapid growth and achieving success “resulted in a compromise to the development of a robust and enduring culture aligned with our stated principles, and employment practices that ensured our team felt appreciated and respected.”

Gelman explained that this ultimately meant The Wing “did not challenge the established patterns of oppression and the racially biased foundations of the hospitality sector; instead, it presented a more approachable and seemingly considerate facade.”

Key points from her communication include:

“The priorities of members were prioritized, and these members were frequently white individuals with the financial means to cover The Wing’s membership fees.”
“Instances of white privilege and abuse of authority were met with acceptance rather than a reinforcement of our declared values.”
“The realization that The Wing was not fundamentally different in the ways it had promoted was particularly disheartening, as the perception of difference only served to amplify the long-standing disappointment felt by women of color, particularly Black women, regarding the limitations of white women’s feminism.”

A formal apology from Gelman and The Wing’s Chief Operating Officer, Lauren Kassan, is among the requests put forth by Flew the Coup, an organization comprised of former The Wing employees.

“As a collective, we have encountered racism and anti-LGBTQIA rhetoric originating from management, headquarters personnel, and members,” the group communicated on Instagram in June. “We have been subjected to both physical and emotional harm within The Wing’s various locations, and faced discrimination when seeking advancement within the organization.”

The group further indicated that despite being founded on the premise of providing a secure and welcoming environment for women and non-binary individuals, “we have consistently observed the opposite of this intended outcome.”

The Wing has secured $117.5 million in funding from various investors, including New Enterprise Associates, AlleyCorp, Sequoia Capital, Serena Williams, and Kerry Washington. At TechCrunch Disrupt, Washington shared her perspective on the situation unfolding at The Wing.

“Well, as you know, I’m no stranger to controversy,” Washington stated. “I remain, and continue to be, genuinely inspired by the original concept behind the company. And, I believe, like many organizations during this period, due to the multiple challenges we are facing – whether it’s a heightened awareness of racial injustice or the COVID-19 pandemic – many are undergoing a period of reassessment and introspection. Therefore, I believe there is significant potential for improvement. As an investor, and as a woman of color, it is crucial to me that there is greater openness and a commitment to accountability.”

Washington explained that her role as an investor in recent months has been “primarily focused on providing support to leadership during this period of change,” and conveying to those leaders a “strong desire” for increased transparency and accountability.

The Wing, similar to numerous other technology companies, experienced difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, the company announced layoffs or furloughs affecting “the majority” of its workforce. Subsequently, in July, an additional 56 employees were laid off.

As part of their efforts, Flew the Coup is also collecting donations to assist individuals who were laid off from The Wing. As of today, the group has raised over $15,000 for its grant program, with a fundraising goal of $100,000.

We have contacted The Wing for comment and will update this article upon receiving a response.