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High-profile investor Steve Jurvetson vigorously defended himself a day after he left his namesake venture capital firm, asserting that his departure was due to a cratering of his relationship with his partners and not because of an ongoing investigation into sexual harassment.
“I left DFJ because of interpersonal dynamics with my partners,” he wrote. “It’s incredibly sad to see how things broke down, and the acrimony that arose between us.”
Jurvetson claimed his departure from DFJ was unrelated to the many allegations that have been leveled against him, including conduct issues. The 390-word Facebook post served as his most extensive public rebuttal to the variety of rumors swirling around Silicon Valley in recent weeks.
“It is excruciating to learn just how quickly, in one news cycle, people conclude that because I have left DFJ there must be some credence to vicious and wholly false allegations about sexual predation and workplace harassment,” he said. “Let me be perfectly clear: no such allegations are true.”
The high-profile investor founded the storied VC firm DFJ, and has backed prominent companies like SpaceX and Tesla. Jurvetson was put on leave from both those boards by those companies yesterday.
As Recode reported, Jurvetson left DFJ under “mutual agreement” Monday, which came after the firm launched an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Jurvetson has denied the claims and promised to file suit against those who he says have defamed him.
He did not, however, mention any plans to actually take legal action against his accusers, as he said he would in his initial statement Monday.
He also alluded to the fact that there were difficult issues in his private life that had no business being aired.
“I think my personal life, and other people’s personal lives, should stay personal. It should not be in the court of public opinion,” he wrote. “This is the last I will say on this subject for the foreseeable future.”
That said, he did detail that personal life a bit in his post, noting: “I have also learned that an ill-advised relationship, where the other person is left feeling hurt, angry or scorned, can have far-reaching consequences in the digital age.”
Here’s Jurvetson’s full statement:
How does one respond to accusations so serious that being innocent is not a good enough defense?
It is excruciating to learn just how quickly, in one news cycle, people conclude that because I have left DFJ there must be some credence to vicious and wholly false allegations about sexual predation and workplace harassment. Let me be perfectly clear: no such allegations are true.
The headlines, so far, arise from the juxtaposition of events, and the wrongful assumption that my departure must be due to a conclusory finding from the ongoing DFJ investigation, which began not with a complaint, but with unsubstantiated rumors.
I left DFJ because of interpersonal dynamics with my partners. The three-month investigation, that has yet to conclude (and I welcome the results whenever that takes place), broke down a normal team dynamic into factions that isolate communications and defer to the advice of lawyers. Add a modicum of stress (such as implied allegations in the press) and deadlines (our annual LP meeting is today), and people show a different side of their personality. I did. So did my partners. It’s incredibly sad to see how things broke down, and the acrimony that arose between us.
I have learned a great deal from this experience. I have seen how my communication style can be hurtful in times of stress. This has affected my relationship with my partners and in my personal life. I have learned that a personal relationship (one that doesn't involve employees, or prospective employees, or others in the workplace) is not so personal or private after all. I have also learned that an ill-advised relationship, where the other person is left feeling hurt, angry or scorned, can have far reaching consequences in the digital age. It is inaccurate and unfair to describe any of this as harassment or predation.
I think my personal life, and other people’s personal lives, should stay personal. It should not be in the court of public opinion. This is the last I will say on this subject for the foreseeable future.
I am incredibly appreciative of the outpouring of support from people who know me, and most especially from my family. Thank you so much.
I am excited to move on and get back to my professional passion, helping great entrepreneurs forge the future.
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.
