Three Indie Horror Publishers Face Sexual Harassment Allegations: What Comes Next?
In late 2025, three indie horror publishers — Dread XP, Critical Reflex, and Black Lantern Collective — were embroiled in allegations of sexual harassment. The main figures involved are Critical Reflex CEO Rita Lebedeva and Ted Hentschke, co-founder of Black Lantern Collective and former head of production at Dread XP.
The accusations came from former employees, including Evelina Zemljic, who published a video on YouTube detailing her experience. Other developers confirmed toxic work environments and boundary violations. While both companies deny the core allegations, they have implemented policy changes since December 2025. Editor Flashka breaks down the situation.
The Allegations
On December 14, 2025, Evelina Zemljic uploaded a video accusing Rita Lebedeva and Ted Hentschke of mistreating her during her time at Critical Reflex. Her claims sparked a wave of similar accusations from other developers.
Zemljic described instances where Lebedeva asked personal questions about her mental health and relationships, shared confidential information, and sent inappropriate messages. She also noted delays in contract issuance and payments at Critical Reflex.
Ted Hentschke faced more serious allegations: sending unsolicited messages on Discord and Telegram, sharing graphic pornography in the workplace, and making sexist comments. Former colleagues from Dread XP — Cleveland Mosher and Star — corroborated these claims.
Company Responses
Both Lebedeva and Hentschke deny the core allegations of harassment. Lebedeva stated she now sets "clear boundaries" around personal conversations and accepts responsibility for not addressing gossip earlier. She linked this to a better understanding of her neurodivergence.
Hentschke confirmed sending some messages but insisted they lacked sexual intent. He explained certain comments as reactions to wishlist statistics for female developers, though marketing experts question the validity of his reasoning.
Internal Changes
Since December 2025, both companies have introduced new policies:
- Black Lantern Collective launched an anonymous whistleblower form accessible to all employees.
- Critical Reflex strengthened HR processes and centralized communication on official platforms.
- Both expanded reporting pathways for whistleblowing employees.
However, the accusers have already left the companies, so they cannot directly assess the effectiveness of these changes.
Флешка
