Melissa Pemberton/Andrzejewski Claims Sexism Affected Decisions That May Remove Her from Aerobatic Prominence (Part 2/Final)

News and Analysis by Jim Campbell, ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief

• US Aerobatic Team Member Removed from Team Roster, Oshkosh Airshow (Part 1)

Preface: This was a brutally difficult story to write… both because of the subject matter as well as the fact that a number of people are feeling some serious pain over the circumstances involved… but before the general media dives in and does an incomplete sensationalistic take on this and damages the aviation community with the kind of ignorance that is all too common when they wade into our world, we’ve done our best to look extensively at the most serious issues raised in this matter to seek some clarity.

This is what we have uncovered at this time, and is probably not the last word we’ll say on the matters discussed.

Part 2-Final: Just a few days ago, Melissa spoke up, publicly, about the Oshkosh Advisory Team’s notification that she was no longer invited to fly as an airshow performer at AirVenture 2016. She thereafter attempted to paint EAA and airshow related professionals associated with the annual fly-in as sexists who felt that her divorce and some related issues disqualified her from the show.

In a series of heavily commented and well-read Facebook postings (and elsewhere) that received 1000s of views and hundreds of comments; Ms. Pemberton asked, “Hi world, just wondering.... How would you respond if an Airshow were to cancel me 3 weeks out because they have a 'safety board' made up of old boys who have collectively decided that ‘I am incapable of flying at their Airshow safely because I am going through a divorce?’ Theoretically...”

While not using EAA or AirVenture’s name, initially, it was obvious to one and all that she was referring to the annual EAA Fly-In in Oshkosh, WI… a fact she confirmed with ANN shortly thereafter and also mentioned in public replies to comments on her Facebook page.

Andrzejewski was quite disturbed about the decision even though evidence suggests she knew that it had been under consideration for some time and not conducted in the surprisingly discriminatory manner suggested. Hundreds of comments have ensued… most extremely supportive and believing sincerely and passionately in Melissa’s tale of sexual discrimination. People protested vehemently, calling EAA and their staffers sexist, and a number of other pejorative terms. Melissa said she was told directly by EAA officials that her expulsion was due to her pending divorce and concerns over some of the makeover pictures and other behaviors she undertook as she shared some of her personal issues on social media in the days and weeks following her being told of her divorce by her husband.

Again; reaction has been swift, angry, insulting and plentiful… and since the matter was addressed to a Facebook site populated by her fans (of which she has many), the reactions have been decidedly anti-EAA and anti-Oshkosh and highly indignant that a woman could be disinvited for such allegedly sexist reasons. Commenters called for EAA and AirVenture boycotts while decrying the ‘Old Boys’ that took her out of the roster for AV16 because of her difficult divorce and emotional behavior.

Melissa has posted several other times on the topic, repeatedly invoking her gender victimization, including this missive, “I am not defined by being a woman, however I am proud to be a woman and to work hard to represent women in my sports. I do not expect to get ahead or to be given unfair advantages because of my sex, and I certainly do not expect to be held back because of it either. I hope to be respected as a professional pilot and athlete and to be given equal opportunity based on my skills and qualifications. Sadly, this is not always the case. I am not a self defined feminist, but I am absolutely passionate about using my media and Airshow platform to motivate and inspire girls to chase their dreams and not to be held back by those who make 'noise' or who are jealous or whose egos cannot handle a powerful woman. As the only woman on the 2015 US Aerobatic Team I was told to 'just be one of the guys,' but I don't want this either. I hope to be a good team leader and team member and a good role model. I want to 'just be me' and 'me' is a woman. So no, I won't be 'one of the guys' I will be myself and I will continue to strive each day to be a better me.. Mind, body, spirit and..... Sportsgal. Strive to be the best YOU and rise above all of the noise.”

In addition to fanning the flames of the retribution being heaped on EAA and the Advisory Team by her fans and supporters, Melissa has also engaged in some questionable ridicule of those who made the decision she is protesting… at one point posting a video (now removed) and a picture, showing her doing cleaning and housework of the type that she asserts the ‘Old Boys’ would approve of.

But; again, the sexism charges just don’t bear up under scrutiny.

Melissa Pemberton was, indeed, informed by an expert group of male AND female airshow/sport aviation professionals that her previous invitation to fly at the annual Oshkosh airshow was withdrawn… a prestigious invite that allows highly qualified airshow pilots to volunteer their services to EAA on an airshow ‘stage’ that is clearly one of the most respected in the world.

Again, let me emphasize that rather than being a good old boy’s network, the roster included some of the most experienced airshow professionals in the world… male AND female… who also reached a unanimous decision in a process that we have confirmed to have started before her divorce or most of the other incidents Melissa has blamed for this decision. Some of the pilots and airshow professionals are not only NOT known for any gender bias, several are known for their extensive support of female aerobatic performers and competitors and while there is an oblique suggestion that this is part of the reason that she has been the only female on the US team, the true fact of the matter is that a former US Team superstar has retired and two others who would have, NO DOUBT, been true aerobatic superstars in this time period, were both lost to tragic crashes in 2009… including my former spouse and former IAC President, Vicki Cruse (who did not report significant gender issues, that I am aware of, while LEADING that organization).

While not trying to create additional hardship, EAA has carefully responded to ANN’s specific request for a statement on this…

“In early 2016, the Oshkosh Advisory Team – a group of leading men and women from throughout the air show industry that reviews performers for EAA and makes recommendations for AirVenture performances – was made aware of instances of conduct involving Melissa Pemberton. That led in mid-April to further discussions and careful evaluation by that group, which recommended rescinding an invitation to Melissa to perform at EAA AirVenture 2016.

The decision and reasoning was given to Melissa in May. She asked for reconsideration, which the Oshkosh Advisory Team gave in early June. At that time, it reaffirmed its earlier decision. This did not in any way involve Melissa’s marital situation or gender, as the initial decision was reached prior to her subsequent divorce announcement. The determination was based solely on specific instances that had occurred during the months preceding the initial decision. Those specifics will remain between the parties directly involved.
EAA will continue to work with the entire air show community to ensure that the high standard long recognized at Oshkosh will be maintained as a showcase for the world’s finest aerobatic performers.”
ANN has spoken with members of the OAT… who have individually confirmed the details EAA related and while they regretted the actions they had to take, they each deemed them necessary.

Melissa, on the other hand, still maintains that the matter is one of sexism… even claiming that an EAA official stated, “I literally got called and then emailed... Hey Melissa(a) sorry but the safety board thinks that from seeing your Facebook posts and your hair cut and new style that you are too stressed to fly (s)o you are uninvited.”

Again; Ms. Pemberton’s EAA source reportedly denies saying this.

Of additional contrast are the numerous reports from various airshow personnel that demonstrate significant concern about Andrzejewski and her failure to perform as promised in a number of airshow programs… including one that resulted in some expensive repercussions at a major airshow because of her not completing the tasks that she was hired to accomplish. Simply put; too many pilots and airshow professionals feel that she had burned too many bridges, and several expressed little desire to fly in an event in which she was a participant.

Summary

So… as damning as all this sounds, we (somehow) still hope that little lasting damage has been done to all those concerned... and that as far as Melissa is concerned at this early point in her career, that it might be fixable by some serious mea-culpas, some honest soul-searching, an extended period of time without controversy and difficulty, and a successful series of professional efforts of the kind that the industry KNOWS she’s capable of. The sad part of it all is that this flyer is THAT good… so say some of the best airshow professionals in the world… the same people who will for the moment, have nothing to do with her until her behaviors change.

As to her charges of sexism, the actual tally and background simply does not support the great majority of her accusations. There is a huge disconnect between her reports and the reality that has been uncovered to this point…

Her problems with the US Team started about the time that she had a dispute over reimbursement for expenses she felt she was due… and was soon followed by her accusations of corruption and fraudulent behavior by the primarily volunteer organization that comprises the support structure for the US Aerobatic team. The Team Manager filed a removal action after a series of unsubstantiated/ libelous and defamatory publications (as defined by at least one affected aviation publisher)… a decision that was upheld initially and, again, after an additional appeal by a team of six individuals comprised (including an alternate) of three men and three women. Further; the first offending publication at allthingsaero.com was actually pulled from public view by an accomplished aviation professional, with significant bona fides within the airshow industry… who agreed that the posting was offensive and legally indefensible. And yes, this ATA Senior Staffer was also NOT one of the good old boys… and is, yes, a highly respected female airshow professional.

All this info lies in direct contrast to her accusations of victimization by the old male power structure (referred to again and again in her personal correspondence with ANN), where many of the decision makers involved were not male. And as to her accusations of sexual harassment… there is little to go on. NO one knows the identity of one anonymous email that seems sexually suggestive and harassing… so we have no evidence as to the ID of the person involved or their motives.

However; the only proven ID of anyone making a sexually suggestive and harassing remark, was Melissa Andrzejewski herself, in a communication to a US Team member in which she suggested that this person engage in sexual acts with other members of the IAC organization.

The Oshkosh matter is even more black and white.

In a public Facebook posting, under a graphic displaying the word ‘Sexism’ in a stereotypical circle with a line drawn through it, diagonally, Andrzejewski accused the EAA, circuitously, of uninviting her from flying at this year’s AirVenture airshow due to her pending divorce and some of her public displays and behaviors that took place days and weeks thereafter as she shared her difficult transition out of married life. EAA and the decision makers at Oshkosh were ridiculed and labeled as ‘old men’ with sexist inclinations while others called for a boycott of Oshkosh and other punitive measures. Again; the facts flew in the face of her narrative. The Oshkosh Advisory Team was staffed by a number of aviation professionals of both genders, including several who have undertaken and supported exhaustive efforts to promote talented, impressive women as they sought to make their way through the aviation community. And again; the timeline directly defied the narrative… since the process that led to her ‘disinvitation’ started before her divorce and the other behaviors she described as being responsible for their decisions.

When confronted with this information, especially when referring to people who had a hand in the AV16 decision, Andrzejewski responded, “I didn't call anyone out on this, I just made a blanket statement on feminism and strength... The fact that EAA are responding so strongly is an admission of guilt. People don't respond defensively if they don't think they did anything wrong.”

In other discussions, she directly attacked OAT members… singling one out as delusional, a liar and one who had cost her sponsorships… even though this is the same person well-known for having boosted her career and promoted her aggressively for many years… and even more well-known as one of the best aerobatic pilots in the world.

As previously noted; this has been a painful story to look into… we personally like Melissa and have enjoyed seeing her fly some challenging routines… but this is an industry that can literally be harmed by false narratives (and has)… and since some people were attempting to get the unsubstantiated sexism story before the general media based solely on Melissa’s accusations, we felt that that this is a story that needed immediate clarification and factual support.

Serious and (to the best of our knowledge) unwarranted accusations could (and may) have minimized, if not seriously damaged the missions of the IAC, US Team, EAA and AirVenture, and we simply felt that a dose of sunshine/truth was the best possible disinfectant for a sad and unsavory series of actions that have, and will probably continue to, hurt a number of people and groups, needlessly.

And as aviation so desperately needs to deal with the true problems of gender discrimination and harassment that are part of today’s sadder side of humanity, we also need to be able to tell the truth when such charges just aren’t so… and based on what we’ve seen… hundreds of messages, docs, images, and dozens of hours of conversations with aviation and aerobatic professionals all over the world, Melissa Andrzejewski’s accusations of sexism, harassment, fraud and corruption are not supported by timelines, evidence, witness statements and the facts as we know them.

At the same time; we have high hopes that someday, somewhere, the exceptional talent shown by this young woman will be seen again as soon as she sorts out her issues, makes peace with the world around her, and accepts the help, support and aid that so many good-hearted people are trying to offer her (at least among those who haven’t yet given up)… so that this unfortunate series of events does not wind up a career-ender – for anyone.

(Lead Photo by Roland Delhomme)

FMI: https://www.facebook.com/#!/melissa062284, https://www.iac.org/, https://www.iac.org/unlimited-team-2015