Formspring Question #170--Is That a Tribble in Your Pocket, or Are You Just Happy to See Me? Edition

Did you know Gales McFadden was allegedly fired from TNG for refusing sexual advances from Maurice Hurley?

Yes, I have heard that, but long after I had written those reviews. Had I known, I would have mentioned the controversy over the accusations, but even now, it is tough to find out the truth about any behind the scenes drama with Trek. The powers that be kept a tight lid on everything even from the very beginning. Grace Lee Whitney was allegedly sexually assaulted by someone high up in production on TOS nearly fifty years ago, and we still do not know what that was all about. Voyager suffered from a lot of grumbling from the actors I will not have much definite to elaborate on, either.

The official line is that Gates McFadden was fired because Gene Roddenberry was looking to shake up the dynamic. He supposedly wanted to cause more friction among the characters. Rumors have McFadden left TNG because Maurice Hurley was sexually harassing her. Which is true?

I am skeptical of the official line, no doubt. Roddenberry believed his superior 24th century humans were perfect. They would be too far above having any sort of personal conflicts among themselves. Such flaws were saved for filthy aliens who had not yet been introduced to the wonders of secular humanism as Roddenberry saw it. Of course, Pulaski was a royal witch from the get go, so there is that.

Was Hurley a sexual harasser? I have no evidence to go by other than the McFadden rumor. It may pay to note that open leaving TNG, Hurley spent a decade working on Baywatch and Baywatch Nights. I am unaware of any accusations of sexual harassment having gone on there, but considering the purpose of those shows and the “special “qualifications the actresses were required to have, they may have considered such things the cost of doing business. Somehow, I doubt Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, and Carmen Electra would care about tush grabbing and boob gawking quite like McFadden would, assuming it went on.

McFadden did return seamlessly once Hurley had moved on. Coincidence? Who knows. We do not have enough facts to decide. As with speculation Denise Crosby’s character was unidentifiably killed off by an oil slick because she had a dispute with Roddenberry, and only returned to the show after he was dead, the evidence is only circumstantial.