Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Arts & Entertainment

Lawsuit: Archie Comics Co-CEO Yelled "PENIS!" And Complained About Her Balls


By

Jen Chung

Published Jul 9, 2011

Modified Jul 9, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Jen Chung

Published Jul 9, 2011

Modified Jul 9, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Say it ain' so, Arch! Archie Comics Publications is suing one of its CEOs, accusing her of sexually harassing employees. According to TMZ, co-CEO Nancy Silberkleit allegedly "barged into a meeting and 'pointed to each [attendee] and said, "PENIS, PENIS, PENIS, PENIS" and then walked out'" in 2009. And then, the lawsuit claims, she did it again in 2010, but yelled "My balls hurt!" for good measure.

The Daily News reports that the company is suing her "in an attempt to bar her from the company's Westchester headquarters and to stop her from attending Comic Con later this month in San Diego." A private investigator's report also details a complaint about Silberkleit "asking if sex toys were stored in an office safe and saying, 'I need to adjust my balls.'"

Nancy Silberkleit is the daughter-in-law of Archie Comics co-founder Louis Silberkleit; according to Comic Bits Online, she assumed the co-CEO position when her husband (and Louis's son), Michael Silberkleit, died in 2008. She told CBO in 2009

"I have never been one to see a glass half empty, but instead a glass that overflows with opportunities and solutions. I think out of the box and I am a 24/7/365 day personality. I embrace learning and strive to be proactive in order to follow my motto to its fullest: to make a difference in the world... While everything is new, it is also familiar because I have seen it all before through Michael’s eyes. I have a vision for the company and I believe in the values that Michael kept dear to him. I plan on taking them and expanding into the new generation without changing the original qualities...The best is yet to come, and Archie Comics are cooler than ever!"

Tagged

archie comics

balls

harassment

lawsuit

nancy silberkleit

penis


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE arts-entertainment

Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City

What do you see when you record the whole of the boroughs?

By

Sonia Rao

Published Oct 5, 2026


Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries

It's a busy month at the branches.

By

Alec Hamilton

Arts & Entertainment

Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries

It's a busy month at the branches.

By

Alec Hamilton


NYC music in October: The Strokes, a Blink-182 cover band, and Polish experimentalism

By

Hank Shteamer

Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.

By

Hannah Frishberg

In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.

By

Elizabeth Shwe

and

James Ramsay


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .