In a new episode of his Harmontown podcast, Harmon apologized to Ganz for sexually harassing her while they were working together on the show.
Harmon admitted that he was "attracted to an employee," adding that "a huge part of the problem is a culture of feeling things that you think are unique and significant because they are happening to you, and saying things like 'I had feelings for' and 'I fell for' and all these things.
"The most clinical way I can put it in fessing up to my crimes is that I was attracted to a writer I had power over because I was a showrunner and I knew enough to know that these feelings were bad news," he continued.
Harmon goes on to explain that he left his then-girlfriend at the time, then confessed his feelings to Ganz. When she didn't reciprocate, he used his power as her boss to manipulate and mistreat her.
"That was probably the darkest of it all," he said. "I'm going to assume when she tweets about it and refers to 'trauma' that's probably it. I drank. I took pills. I crushed on her and resented her for not reciprocating it and the entire time I was the one writing her paychecks and in control of whether she stayed or went and whether she felt good about herself or not, and said horrible things. Just treated her cruelly, pointedly, things I would never, ever would have done if she had been male and if I had never had those feelings for her."
Because he didn't defend himself, Ganz has openly acknowledged that Harmon's apology was sincere, and she offered him her forgiveness. Read her tweets about the subject below, where you'll also find a link to the podcast.
Here's a weird one for you: Last week, I called out my former boss @danharmon for sexual harassment, and today I'm going to ask you to listen to his podcast. https://t.co/BEZAWH787V
— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 11, 2018
I'm not being flippant. I didn't bring up this mess just to sweep it back under the rug. But I find myself in the odd position of having requested an apology publicly, and then having received one—a good one—also publicly. I waited 6 years for it, but you can find it 18:38 in.
— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 11, 2018
Please listen to it. It's only seven minutes long, but it is a masterclass in How to Apologize. He's not rationalizing or justifying or making excuses. He doesn't just vaguely acknowledge some general wrongdoing in the past. He gives a full account.
— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 11, 2018
Yes, I only listened because I expected an apology. But what I didn't expect was the relief I'd feel just hearing him say these things actually happened. I didn't dream it. I'm not crazy. Ironic that the only person who could give me that comfort is the one person I'd never ask.
— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 11, 2018
This was never about vengeance; it's about vindication. That's why it didn't feel right to just accept his apology in private (although I did that, too). Because if any part of this process should be done in the light, it's the forgiveness part. And so, @danharmon, I forgive you.
— Megan Ganz (@meganganz) January 11, 2018