Waverly Inn removes video and attempts to pay off employee after a drunken incident involving the owner’s spouse: Lawsuit

Lawsuit Alleges Altercation at Waverly Inn

The lawsuit claims that the spouse of hotelier Sean McPherson faced an unsettling incident at the Waverly Inn, leading her to attempt to contact the manager and, later, allegedly pay off the employee involved for silence.

Rachel Hruska McPherson asserts that video evidence from the January 29 episode was deleted soon after a complaint was lodged by the employee. Sean McPherson, known for his high-end clothing brand Lingua Franca New York City, sells unique, hand-embroidered sweaters featuring phrases like “No Kings” and “ICE Out.”

According to the court documents submitted to the Manhattan Supreme Court, McPherson, 43, “engaged in a series of escalating, unwelcome and non-consensual physical acts” towards Blake Diemer, a longstanding worker at the Waverly Inn.

The employee alleges that McPherson leaned over him, grabbed his arm, and used him for “physical support,” even trying to compel Diemer to lie on top of her.

Diemer described the situation, stating, “She repeatedly tried to force physical intimacy by moving her face closer to me. I turned my head to kiss her,” as noted in the legal documents.

McPherson, a figure in various popular Manhattan venues, later recounted trying to assist Diemer—the latter claiming she grabbed Diemer by the waist, though he managed to break free.

“I literally said to her something like, ‘I’m trying to help you wake up tomorrow with no regrets,’” Diemer remembered.

The chaotic night seemed to wind down after Sean McPherson called Diemer’s phone to arrange a ride for his wife.

Diemer, who has a background working with Vanity Fair’s Graydon Carter at the venue for over four years, indicated that he immediately reported McPherson’s behavior, but management ignored his complaint.

The following day, he received a text from Rachel McPherson inquiring about payment apps like Venmo and Zelle. He felt the timing suggested an attempt to influence or suppress his voice.

“She wanted to send me a little something to thank her for taking care of her,” he mentioned. “I didn’t know how to respond. I was shocked. … Eventually, I replied, saying, ‘That’s very generous. I just need some time and I can’t accept that.’”

The lawsuit claims they later discovered that the surveillance footage from that night had been erased.

This incident wasn’t the first altercation Diemer faced with McPherson at the trendy West Village venue, well-frequented by celebrities like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey.

Diemer reported that back in February 2022, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, McPherson allegedly removed her face mask while she was working.

Following the recent episode, Diemer sought legal counsel from Staten Island attorney Natraj Bhushan and has distanced himself from the Waverly Inn. He claims that the establishment has fostered a hostile work environment and is seeking unspecified damages.