My job title was ''Wardrobe Specialist''. I believe I worked very hard and I loved my job, it was pretty awesome and it's actually where I found my passion in makeup and I also learned how to sew. My job consisted of washing all the actors costumes/clothes and pre-setting them in their dressing rooms, pre-setting the stages, anytime the actors forgot a part of any costumes, I would run for them, ironing, assisting in making props, assisting with hair, makeup, tattoos, anything that was asked from my superiors and pretty much making the production team's life easier. I know it sounds kind of like being a slave but it wasn't at all and I loved my job. Even though the wardrobe part was a daily routine, my days always consisted of a new task and a lot of the things that I know today is because of my experience working at HLE. The production team was awesome, they helped me anyway they could and I'd helped them which at times made my job easier. The holiday parties were so much fun, the wardrobe team wrote and sang a song about the situations behind the scenes, making fun of them, it was hilarious. I will actually have the video posted on my Facebook page, just click the Facebook icon in the top right corner once you finish reading and it will take you directly to it. You don't want to miss the video, it highlights this specific situation that I am writing about. Working at HLE was a lot of fun and of course, like any other job, there was work drama, people who were annoying and people trying to be in charge, as we all know things we can't escape in any job.
I started working at HLE in 2007, the year Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) bought it. I was able to see the changes before my eyes because of curse it took quite some time before Fuchsia started making those changes. Not all of the changes were bad in fact the audience seemed to like everything they saw, if only I could say the same for behind the scenes. The way Fuchsia approached most of her changes were in the rudest way and as if we were peasants (that's the way I saw it). I always said that our job depended on Fuchsia's mood. Thankfully she never addressed herself to me however my manager wasn't so lucky. I had one of the sweetest managers, who would make anything happen for anyone in the craziest deadlines and I watch her cry many times from how rude Fuchsia was to her. Everything started changing with the expectations Fuchsia had, but it was a job so we went about our day and did our daily task as we were asked to do. Normally to me, a job is a job and however the superiors go about their request don't matter because I'm there to work and get payed to do as I'm asked, as long as it's in a professional manner.
In late 2009, it seemed as if everyone was not as happy, (From where I was standing) nothing was the same anymore. We all made jokes about the things that were going on and had a lot of subliminal jokes in plain sight, just to gets us by our day. What took a turn for worse in my situation wasn't so much Fuchsia, at least not yet, it was another individual we use to call fluff. Fluff was one of the actors who played the role of Jesus. Fluff was one of the ones trying to be in charge of everything, in my opinion, it was mostly because he was old and he knew he couldn't play the role of Jesus forever therefore he was so far up Fuchsia's rear end that you couldn't tell where she started and he ended (only to get an office, which he later got). Even though all the show were very important, I wasn't needed for all of them as much as the show called ''behold the lamb; Passion Drama'' where they perform the crucifixion of Jesus. I need to explain what my job consisted of for this specific show for you guys to understand where and how everything happened.
My job as a Wardrobe Specialist consisted of many things before, during and after this particular show, it was actually the show I did the most for. In the Passion Drama, after "Jesus" is crucified, there is a short period window of two to three minutes where 'Jesus" has to dry his hair, change his clothing (from dirty to clean) and all the blood out of his face & body because he has to look fresh and resurrected. All the things needed for this show, were pre-set in the morning by wardrobe. It was a daily routine, and the only change would be who played the role of Jesus. Each actor who played the role had their own preference of how the job was done. The routine went a little like this; the one who played the role of Jesus for that day, walks down and he would strip down to his diaper (it's what we use to call it), the actor would wash & dry his hair and his upper body while wardrobe would clean his legs. Then I would have the gown ready for "Jesus" and place it over his head for him to finish getting dressed. I'd snapped the buttons from the gown as he dried his hair with a hair dryer. I'd also hold the hairspray bottle until he was ready to spray his hair and finally he would run back up to resurrect. When it was fluff's turn, he always acted silly with the hairspray, I guess his kind of fun. For example; he sprayed his hair, armpits, and his butt. YES his rear end (everyone knew he was a cornball except him). During this process, there was always a member of the Tech department along with the actor "Jesus" and Wardrobe. Even though we made jokes, everyone was always professional. There is a whole lot more to do for this show but this is the part that you need to know.
Moving on to the day things took a turn for the worse. I was doing my daily routine up to the part where I passed the hairspray to fluff and he sprayed as usual, his hair, armpits, rear end but this time he sprayed ME! He had the nerve to sprayed me in my "VAGINA" area, how disrespectful!!! No he did not touch me but it was about an inch away and close enough for me to feel the wetness of the spray. I yelled "what the hell?!!" but because of the short timed window, he ran up the stairs to resurrect. Normally, I wouldn't run in to fluff until the last show, which was "behold the Lamb" again. Therefore I was unable to approach him about it due to him being in multiple shows where I wasn't needed and I needed to finish my task for this show to move on the next. Even though I was extremely upset, I had to stay professional and continue doing my job until I was able to address it. Once I was done, I spoke to my Manager and Production Manager to let them know what had happened (they seemed worried). I was referred to the HR representative, where I wrote a statement and left it with her (I was so dumb not to keep a copy).
The next day after arriving to work, I did my daily task as I usually do in the mornings, when my presence was requested in the Admin Building. I walked in a conference room and there was a lawyer, who happened to be related to Fuchsia, sitting on the conference table with a witness standing behind him, who at the time was the person managing the park.. I had more than a couple of meetings with both therefore I don't recall the order of how everything happened but I will try my best to summarize everything. In the first meeting, the Lawyer introduced himself and made sure to inform me that as soon as he heard of this matter he took the first flight from California to Fl just to assure me the importance of this matter and of course I knew he was only worried about the best interest of Holy land, (not me). Then we went over my statement and he kept questioning almost every sentence and I felt as if he was trying to convince me in many ways that it wasn't sexual harassment. He would ask questions like; why do you think its sexual harassment? do you think it was sexual harassment because of the area? Do you think its sexual harassment because of his age? (fluff was in his 40's or 50's I was 21) Who did you tell about it? and he wanted their names, What was I expecting from them by reporting this, What I thought his punishment should be, He gave me options in punishments and asked me how I felt about those punishments, He also asked if Fluff had apologized to me and how I felt about an apology. For a moment I think he forgot that if its unwanted its sexual harassment and disrespectful. After what seemed like hours of interrogation, the Lawyer mentioned the possibility of me being moved to a different department until things settled down, then he proceeded ask me to keep all this in confidentiality and we would meet back the following day.
Leaving the conference room, I was so upset, How is it that I have to suffer the consequences by being moved to another department when I didn't do anything wrong? I loved my job and they are taking it away? it wasn't fair! I spoke to my Manager about it and let her know how I felt. There was a small group of approximately seven people around while I spoke to my Manager and I did tell them as well that I was going to be moved to another department. I didn't think that had to be kept a secret because it was going to be obvious when they didn't see me in wardrobe. I wasn't happy about the outcome of the meeting with the lawyer so I wanted to see what my options were therefore I called a law firm to get information. Unfortunately, I was told that I didn't have a case and that as long as we were being separated, the company was doing the right thing even if I didn't like it. I couldn't argue that and I had to leave it alone which it made me more upset, I realize then why most people don't come forward in a sexual harassment incident, its easier to keep quiet. I said something along the lines of reaching out to channel news, if they did me dirty but then I didn't want to deal with everything that came with that territory so I left that alone as well.
The next day, the lawyer and I had another meeting as planned, but this time it didn't go so well...................................................
To be continued!
If you want to read what happened next and how I ended my employment, stay tuned for Monday for Part 2. This was a very long and time consuming segment therefore I decided to make it 2 parts. I am not doing this blog out of maliciousness, God is my witness. I just don't think it was right for them to sweep me under the rug and pretend I never happened. Even though was told I didn't have a case, this should have never gone unnoticed!! Please help me spread the word, I was not the only one who was a victim of sexual harassment and I am hoping that by getting you guys to support me they will come forward too.
No one puts Krystal in the corner lol... This is my untold story, stay tuned for Part 2!
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Sincerely,
Krystal *-*
xoxoxoxo