10 Workplace Misconduct Scandals That Social Media Screening Could Have Prevented in August 2025

August revealed a series of troubling misconduct cases that made headlines across industries, from healthcare and law to entertainment and media. Rock bands cut ties with members over offensive memes, a lawyer was disciplined for explicit social media activity, and a British Columbia nurse was suspended and fined nearly $94,000 after making “discriminatory and derogatory statements” about transgender people. Each case highlights how harmful online behavior can escalate into major professional and reputational fallout.

10 Workplace Misconduct Scandals

1. A stranger told me I was sending my kids to ‘Nazi camp’ — this shows how mainstream anti-Jew hate has become

After a “misguided stunt” that was confused as an act of terror occurred outside a Jewish summer camp, a Fidelity employee went on a social media rampage messaging parents and kids of the summer camp comments including “F*** you and f*** your kid who goes to Nazi summer camp!” Several similar messages were shared, and subsequently went viral. Fidelity terminated the employee and made a statement that they do not support her comments. (NY Post)

2. Elite Law Firm Fires Partner for 'Disturbing' X Posts: 'On Your Knees'

A partner at Mayer Brown's global private funds and investment management practice was fired just weeks after being hired, following the discovery of sexually explicit and inappropriate content he had posted on X before joining the firm. In one post, David Paul Kreisler replied to a woman’s question with, “On your knees.” Days later, he told another woman asking about date expenses, “Depends if you are willing to perform.” (Newsweek) 

3. Corrections Officer’s Firing Over Facebook Posts Upheld by Court

A Wisconsin corrections officer was terminated after making offensive Facebook posts, including reposting a meme comparing a Muslim child to garbage, denigrating the LGBTQ community, and referring to the Confederate flag as “our flag.” He appealed his firing, claiming violations of his due process and First Amendment rights, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld the dismissal, emphasizing that law enforcement agencies have broad discretion to discipline employees when their speech undermines effective operations. (Bloomberg Law)

4. US rock band fires bassist for sharing ‘highly offensive’ Ozzy Osbourne meme

“The US comedy rock band Green Jellÿ have fired one of their members for posting a meme about Ozzy Osbourne following the metal singer’s death… Shortly after Osbourne’s death on 22 July, Green Jellÿ posted a Photoshopped image of the Black Sabbath frontman holding a sign that read “one day sober” – clearly making light of the singer’s history of substance addiction.” (Yahoo News)

5. Lucasfilm and Disney settle with actor Gina Carano following her firing from ‘The Mandalorian’

The lawsuit between actress Gina Carano and Lucasfilm/Disney has been settled, though terms remain undisclosed. Carano’s firing stemmed from a 2021 social media post in which she compared the dehumanizing treatment of political opponents in the U.S. to the treatment of Jewish people in Nazi Germany. (CNN)

6. Former officer sentenced to probation after allegedly wearing police uniform in OnlyFans video

A former Metro Nashville Police Department officer has been sentenced to one year of supervised probation after pleading no contest to a felony official misconduct charge.

The officer was accused of abusing his position by appearing in an explicit OnlyFans-style video while on duty, filmed in uniform during a mock traffic stop in which a woman exposed her breast. (WDTV) 

7. New Yorker writer who referred to Sydney Sweeney as ‘Aryan princess’ deletes series of racist X posts: ‘I hate white men’

A staffer for the New Yorker sparked backlash for calling Sydney Sweeney an “Aryan princess” in a critical piece about her American Eagle campaign. In response, social media users unearthed a series of her old X posts from 2014 that featured deeply inflammatory content, including: “whiteness fills me with a lot of hate” and that “the holocaust is the worst thing to happen to black people.” 

In another post targeting white men, she wrote: “You all are the worst. Go nurse your f—ing Oedipal complexes and leave the earth to the browns and the women.”

She also tweeted: “I hate white men,” and claimed that white people’s poor hygiene “literally started the bubonic plague, lice, syphilis.” (NY Post) 

8. B.C. [British Columbia] nurse suspended by college, asked to pay $94K in costs for comments about transgender people

“A [British Columbia] nurse has been suspended and fined nearly $94,000 in costs for making ‘discriminatory and derogatory statements’ about transgender people… The panel said in its verdict in March that Hamm committed professional misconduct for making statements across ‘various online platforms’ between July 2018 and March 2021 that were partly designed ‘to elicit fear, contempt and outrage against members of the transgender community.’” (CBC) 

9. Hamilton constable suspended after posting content from extremist groups, following CBC investigation

A constable with the Hamilton Police Service has been suspended with pay, as authorities investigate resurfaced social media posts that contained extremist content. He re-shared posts containing racist stereotypes about marginalized groups, including one that claimed “diversity means white genocide.” He also amplified extremist commentary referencing Adolf Hitler, urging police and military leaders to “wake up and honour the oaths they took to protect Canada and its citizens.”

In a 2020 post on X,  the police constable suggested that the “only way Canada will survive” was through a coup carried out by the military and police. The Hamilton Police Service stated the posts violate its professional standards and stressed its commitment to serving all community members equally while the review continues. (CBC)

10. Fama Findings: $3 Billion Revenue Inflation Scandal

As part of a Fama online screening, we surfaced content showing a senior executive had been implicated in inflating company revenue by nearly $3 billion. Investigations allege that falsified financial statements were used to satisfy aggressive revenue goals set by the former CEO. This kind of misconduct demonstrates how financial manipulation at the leadership level can threaten investor confidence and long-term stability.

Digital footprints often expose red flags long before they make headlines. From questionable commentary to patterns of risky behavior, publicly available online information can provide critical context that traditional vetting processes overlook.

Prevent Public Scandals with Proactive Screening

The misconduct stories from August 2025 show how quickly online actions, whether offensive posts, extremist rhetoric, or financial misconduct exposed in public records, can escalate into serious professional and reputational consequences. In each case, the warning signs were visible online well before the scandals made headlines.

As workplaces face increasing scrutiny from the public, regulators, and stakeholders, the ability to detect risk early is no longer optional. With tools like Employee Screening with Fama Pulse, organizations can proactively screen for risks, protect brand reputation, and uphold a culture of accountability before misconduct becomes a costly crisis. For a deeper dive into these headlines, tune into our #9to5Nightmares podcast.