I joined the 501st the day I turned 18. It was a huge day for me. After years of being in the organization, I realized that the leadership cultivated bullying, sexual harassment, and embezzled so much money that should’ve gone to charity. I left immediately.
I’m glad many of these issues are finally surfacing, but I really doubt anything will change. I wanted to share this as a heads up to any aspiring 501st members. Build your costume, have your fun, but steer clear of that organization. Especially if you are a young woman.
The fact that people are so genuinely shocked by these statements should tell you how hard the 501st leadership works to cover up conflict and abuse.