Writer Megan Ganz Confronts Dan Harmon on His Unclear Twitter Apology

Megan Ganz is an acclaimed comedy writer who has worked on some of the best sitcoms of the last decade. Before stints on It’s Always Sunny, The Last Man on Earth and Modern Family, her first major network TV job was on the writing staff of Community from 2010 to 2013, where she worked with the show’s creator, Dan Harmon (who, of course, has gone on to co-create Rick and Morty). She was perhaps the most notable Community writer to stay with the show after NBC replaced Dan Harmon before the fourth season started. And last night on Twitter she revealed that she doubted her own talent as a writer after how Harmon treated her during their time together on Community.

Ganz didn’t go into detail about what happened between the two, but Harmon acknowledged that something inappropriate did happen and apologized to Ganz. The Twitter conversation started with Ganz replying to a tweet Harmon wrote vaguely admitting to being an asshole. It’s fascinating to see this play out so publicly: Ganz is legitimately engaging with Harmon, and doesn’t accept his apology, but says she’s working towards forgiving him, for her own benefit. For his part Harmon doesn’t deny that he treated Ganz unprofessionally in some fashion (although his weak “foggy memories” claim reinforces the power imbalance between culprit and target in situations as these, as Ganz basically points out—what seems unmemorably insignificant to Harmon is something that has greatly impacted her for years), and doesn’t really resort to the kind of prevaricating non-apologies often seen in similar situations.

Splitsider points out that Ganz has written cryptic comments directed at Harmon in the past. There have been hints of tension between Harmon and Ganz for years, but this is the first real confirmation that something uncomfortable occurred between them.

Harmon developed a reputation of being somewhat hard to work with on the set of Community. His poor relationship with Chevy Chase (who has a much longer history of being hard to work with) drove the former SNL star from the show, and also to NBC firing Harmon after the third season. Harmon has been very open about his struggles with alcohol and his emotional and mental issues. That doesn’t excuse whatever might have happened between him and Ganz, of course, but those problems might have had some connection to how he treated her.

It’s Ganz’s right to reveal as little or as much about that treatment as she chooses, of course. There’s no reason to think this Twitter conversation will materially impact Harmon’s career in any way, and without more details and proof of a pattern of behavior there’s not much of a reason that it should. This sort of public, semi-respectful conversation is a valuable and fascinating look at how we’re all grappling with the reckoning that has faced men in power over the last several months, and how it’ll impact workplace dynamics going forward.

Read the full conversation below.

This was truly the Year of the Asshole. Myself included. We don’t have to make 2018 the Year of the Mensch but I hope it can be the Year of the Not as Much of an Asshole. #RealisticGoals

— Dan Harmon (@danharmon) January 1, 2018

Care to be more specific? Redemption follows allocution. https://t.co/THKaqaF3dN

— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 2, 2018

Was just shown this. And a previous sub tweet I think was about me. I didn’t want to add narcissism to injury by naming you without permission, but I’ve talked on my podcast about the lines I crossed. I will talk about it more in any way that you think is just. I am deeply sorry.

— Dan Harmon (@danharmon) January 3, 2018

i’m filled with regret and a lot of foggy memories about abusing my position, treating you like garbage. I would feel a lot of relief if you told me there was a way to fix it. I’ll let you call the shots. Til then, at least know I know I was an awful boss and a selfish baby.

— Dan Harmon (@danharmon) January 3, 2018

I wish my memories were foggier. I wish there was a way to fix it. It took me years to believe in my talents again, to trust a boss when he complimented me and not cringe when he asked for my number. I was afraid to be enthusiastic, knowing it might be turned against me later.

— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 3, 2018

You want relief? So do I. I want to watch the first episode of television I wrote again without remembering what came after. Figure out how to give me that relief and I’ll return the favor.

— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 3, 2018

I’m disgusted and sorry that I stained our show and your talent with my selfish, childish shit. I get that I can’t erase it, don’t want to, but have felt sick about it. I have kept a wall between me and coworkers and I have preached doing so as gospel because of how I treated you

— Dan Harmon (@danharmon) January 3, 2018

I also never wanted to bring your name into it because you had a right to your own career and narrative and the thing I regretted most was impinging on that. I’d done it enough. So I kept it anonymous but have warned everyone, don’t do what I did. Be aware of power dynamics.

— Dan Harmon (@danharmon) January 3, 2018

I’ll reiterate, if and when you want me to do something – a public letter, a co-sign on your letter, a book, pamphlet, public whatevering, I will support it, I will nod, I will verify, I will suffer and atone. But it has to be at your behest, or it’s just more dansplaining.

— Dan Harmon (@danharmon) January 3, 2018

I haven’t listened to your podcast, but I don’t think walls are the answer. Unless you put them up with male coworkers, too. Otherwise you’re falling into the Mike Pence School of Gender Relations that says men can’t be trusted with women’s phone numbers.

— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 3, 2018

I appreciate your attempts to make amends and your acknowledgement of fault. That doesn’t sound as tidy as “I forgive you,” but that’s not my feeling yet. I’m working towards it all the time, for my benefit more than yours.

— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 3, 2018

But if I can offer this: It’s good to recognize power dynamics, but it’s also good to recognize you’re no different from those you employ. You’re not a king on a hilltop, nor a beast in a labyrinth. Isolation isn’t always best. Connection breeds empathy. Empathy allows growth.

— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 3, 2018