NY Renaissance Faire employee: ‘People are terrified of speaking out ... being blacklisted or fired’

A former manager at the New York Renaissance Faire breaks her silence and is accusing her former bosses of turning a blind eye to sexually harassment.

News 12 Staff

Jan 21, 2020, 5:12 PM

Updated 1,570 days ago

Share:

A former manager at the New York Renaissance Faire broke her silence by accusing her former bosses of turning a blind eye to sexual harassment.

News 12's Tara Rosenblum investigated the New York Renaissance Faire back in September following allegations of worker mistreatment at the popular event.
A handful of former employees who watched the first Turn To Tara report are now speaking out - but only one would speak on camera.

Claire Bochenek, a former performer and manager, took News 12 behind the curtain of her summer spent in "Queen Elizabeth's court.”

Bochenek said she studied in England, and trained in Shakespeare and Greek theater, so felt she couldn’t pass up an opportunity to manage a 30-person cast last year.

After initially receiving what she described as 'the royal treatment' from her bosses, Bochenek claims her working conditions quickly deteriorated after she started to complain about alleged safety concerns that included missing bathroom breaks and unruly performers.

"They became hostile and it increased in severity," says Bochenek.

She says she finally hit a breaking point after a performer gifted her an unwanted sex toy.

"I opened it in front of all my cast members … and that was probably one of the most humiliating moments of my life,” she says.

That performer was immediately fired, but she says management retaliated against her after she filed a formal complaint in writing.
Bochenek claims she is not alone, and that it’s happened to multiple women.
"A lot of the women would often, when we got together, would share things that were said to us, inappropriate things ... there was a 17-year-old cast member who came to me because one of the directors there said something that was sexually suggestive. She was humiliated by it and didn't know how to ask for help. I feel like it was behavior tolerated for so long it just became accepted,” she says.
News 12 has heard other similar complaints over the past two months regarding safety and harassment, but only Bochenek would speak on-camera.
“People are terrified of speaking out. Afraid of being blacklisted or fired. They’re scared. It’s sad,” she says.
While no one from the leadership team at the faire was willing to speak on-camera regarding the allegation, News 12 did hear from their lawyer who sent a lengthy statement that read in part, “Tara is searching for a story where none exists.”
He goes on to write “The culture at NYRF is anything but sexually hostile. The NYRF has a strong anti-sexual harassment policy, and provides comprehensive sexual harassment training.”
He added, “Breaks are regularly scheduled by directors, and employees can report incidents of misconduct without fear of reprisal.”
The lawyer also pointed out that for an organization of over 1,500 employees and volunteers, with more than 150,000 patrons per summer, incidents at the Renaissance Faire are few and far between.
 


More from News 12
1:52
NYCHA to cut security guards from dozens of senior buildings

NYCHA to cut security guards from dozens of senior buildings

1:58
Rainy, windy Friday for NYC; chance for showers on Mother's Day

Rainy, windy Friday for NYC; chance for showers on Mother's Day

1:25
NYPD: Driver wanted for hitting 2 women, killing 1 in Bushwick

NYPD: Driver wanted for hitting 2 women, killing 1 in Bushwick

1:40
NYPD: One woman dead, another injured in hit-and-run in Bushwick

NYPD: One woman dead, another injured in hit-and-run in Bushwick

1:53
Bushwick tenant displaced by fire tries to rebuild life while living in shelter

Bushwick tenant displaced by fire tries to rebuild life while living in shelter

1:28
Bushwick families displaced by massive fire receive clothes, supplies at relief drive

Bushwick families displaced by massive fire receive clothes, supplies at relief drive

1:58
Local officials and loved ones of victims rally for stricter laws against 'drugged drivers'

Local officials and loved ones of victims rally for stricter laws against 'drugged drivers'

0:52
Brooklyn teacher honored by News 12 during Teacher Appreciation Week

Brooklyn teacher honored by News 12 during Teacher Appreciation Week

1:55
New law allows NYC to set its own speed limits amid spike in traffic deaths

New law allows NYC to set its own speed limits amid spike in traffic deaths

1:55
​NYPD: Cyclist in critical condition after striking car door then ran over by school bus in Bensonhurst

​NYPD: Cyclist in critical condition after striking car door then ran over by school bus in Bensonhurst

1:44
Maimondes Health, Parker and Talia give away 1,000 sensory-free onesies to newborns

Maimondes Health, Parker and Talia give away 1,000 sensory-free onesies to newborns

0:50
Marine officials: Dead whale caught on cruise ship's bow in Brooklyn

Marine officials: Dead whale caught on cruise ship's bow in Brooklyn

1:02
Carroll Gardens pizzeria namedropped in Drake, Kendrick Lamar rap feud

Carroll Gardens pizzeria namedropped in Drake, Kendrick Lamar rap feud

0:31
Officials: 3 people involved in Brooklyn gang, death of 1-year-old sentenced to prison

Officials: 3 people involved in Brooklyn gang, death of 1-year-old sentenced to prison

0:31
City Parks Foundation opens registration for free 2024 summer sports programs

City Parks Foundation opens registration for free 2024 summer sports programs

1:02
Bright news: Here come the longer days and later sunsets

Bright news: Here come the longer days and later sunsets

1:47
Love at first dance: 94-year-old & 82-year-old tie the knot at Bainbridge Adult Day Health Care Center

Love at first dance: 94-year-old & 82-year-old tie the knot at Bainbridge Adult Day Health Care Center

0:59
NYC public school chancellor testifies to Congress over rise in antisemitism in schools

NYC public school chancellor testifies to Congress over rise in antisemitism in schools

2:01
Four smoke shops busted in city-wide crackdown on illegal weed shops

Four smoke shops busted in city-wide crackdown on illegal weed shops

0:48
Young adults get hands-on learning at the Green-Wood Cemetery

Young adults get hands-on learning at the Green-Wood Cemetery