The Museum of Sex is facing its second lawsuit over alleged sexual harassment in recent years after a former employee said he was routinely subjected to unwanted sexual comments and conduct from staff members.
Travis White, the former retail manager for the for-profit museum’s flagship location on Fifth Avenue, filed the lawsuit against the museum last month in New York Supreme Court.
White said in the lawsuit that he was hired by the museum in November 2022 and alleged that began receiving unwanted sexual advances from product manager Kit Richardson in January 2023.
He alleged that, in one incident, Richardson rubbed his lower back and asked him if he was “into big girls.” She also allegedly told him she frequently used sex toys from the museum’s gift shop and told him he “must use large condoms” since he “is so tall.”
The full complaint is available to paid subscribers.
Urgent MatterAdam Schrader
In March 2023, Richardson allegedly called White into her office, where her OnlyFans page, displaying an image of her vagina, was open on her computer screen.
White said he immediately informed Richardson of his discomfort in seeing the picture.
“Pussy doesn’t bite. Did you bring a condom? Let’s get started,” Richardson allegedly responded.
White said he reported the incident to his supervisor, Edward Rogers, who was listed as a co-defendant in the case, along with human resources manager Ian Oldaker.
“If you can’t get along with other members of the team who have been with the museum far before you arrived, then you won’t be working here for long,” Rogers allegedly told White.
Richardson, after finding out that White had reported her, allegedly told him that he had “little dick energy” and would call him “little bitch boy” throughout 2023.
White also accused bar and event manager Michael DeLauretis of repeated sexual harassment, beginning with an incident in an elevator in December 2023.
“Without warning, DeLauretis lifted his shirt and began rubbing his nipples in a circular motion while looking [White] directly in the eye,” the lawsuit reads.
In February 2024, DeLauretis allegedly asked White if he “liked to suck cock” and would repeatedly put various sex objects onto his desk, including an oversized dildo and a penis-shaped balloon, throughout that spring and summer. DeLauretis allegedly showed White a pornographic video on his phone in the fall of 2024.
When White made complaints about DeLauretis to Rogers, the harassment allegedly worsened, according to the lawsuit.
“Anal sex would loosen you right up. You really need some,” DeLauretis allegedly told White at some point in late 2024. In another incident, DeLauretis said to White, “Can I shoot cum in your mouth?”
The lawsuit alleges discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, and interference with paid family leave rights, culminating in White’s termination in April 2025.
White said that in March 2025, he had notified Rogers of his intent to take off three months of work for the birth of his child that he was eligible for under New York’s paid family leave law.
“That’s too long. Take a week off instead and then get back to business. I don’t respect men who take off for paternity leave,” Rogers allegedly said.
When Rogers later asked White to confirm how much time he intended to take off for paid family leave, White again said he planned to take the full three months.
White said his employment was ended three days later on April 8, 2025. Rogers allegedly said that White had too many issues with Richardson and DeLauretis.
“Plus, now you have unlimited time to spend with your new baby,” Rogers allegedly said.
White’s case includes a cause of action for workplace discrimination, two causes of action for retaliation and one for aiding and abetting under New York State law. He added several more additional causes of action under New York City law.
He seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial.
The news comes after the Museum of Sex faced another lawsuit alleging sexual harassment in 2019.
In that lawsuit, a 21-year-old former tour guide named Katherine McMahon claimed that she and her colleagues were regularly groped and questioned about their sex lives by drunk museumgoers. She accused the museum of failing to protect her and other employees from “harassment and assault.”
McMahon’s case was marked “disposed” in New York Supreme Court records. No court decision appears on the docket, suggesting the matter may have been resolved privately.
Follow along with other lawsuits at Urgent Matter's art lawsuit tracker.