back to article Butt plugs, mock cocks, late pay and paranoia: The world of Waymo star Anthony Levandowski… by his kids' nanny

The engineer at the center of a massive self-driving car lawsuit – brought by Google-stablemate Waymo against Uber – neglects his kids, is wildly disorganized, and has a large selection of bondage gear, his former nanny has sensationally alleged. Anthony Levandowski may also be paying a Tesla techie for trade secrets, may have …

  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Well, tie me up and tickle me with a feather ..!

    1. Montreal Sean

      I'm sure he'll use the feather if you ask nicely. ;)

  2. Pompous Git Silver badge

    Wong's sueball is set to be held on April 5

    Wouldn't April 1 be more appropriate? I can hardly wait...

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Wong's sueball is set to be held on April 5

      Right? Extreme obsession to detail like this tends to indicate psychosis.

      1. Michael Thibault

        Re: Wong's sueball is set to be held on April 5

        Such detail suggests she's been a very busy Cluster Bee.

      2. John Smith 19 Gold badge
        Unhappy

        Right? Extreme obsession to detail like this tends to indicate psychosis.

        And an inability to prioritize relevant information over irrelevant trivia as well.

        My first (stream-of-consciousness, naturally) reaction was "She sounds like she's somewhere on the APD spectrum."

        Is "Lack of empathy" a character trait you want in someone looking after children? Lack of sympathy perhaps, lack of empathy, not so much.

        Her hiring (at a time of maximum confusion) sounds quite opportune, almost ideal if you were planning to hit someone with a large lawsuit later. How did she pick this lawyer for the job?

        I smell a rat, and I'm not just referring to any hints of her former employers personal hygiene either.

    2. Charlie Clark Silver badge

      Re: Wong's sueball is set to be held on April 5

      I wouldn't really worry about the contents of the sueball which will probably never go to court. The US legal system effectively encourages suits with long lists that lead to nice out of court settlements. Levandowski will want to bury this quickly so that none of the allegations feature in the real suit so some kind of hush money will probably be paid.

  3. Mike Moyle

    Not sure what it says about the nanny...

    That she immediately recognized elk hide.

    "2. 30” elkhide flogger"

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Not sure what it says about the nanny...

      To be fair, she might have had to do a lot of googling to figure out just what type of leather it was. But then one wonders why she wanted to know so badly.

      Hmmm, perhaps the legend "Elk Hide Flogger" is printed right on it? Y'know, so the floggee understands they're getting a high quality beating?

      1. Neil Barnes Silver badge
        Gimp

        Re: Not sure what it says about the nanny...

        It's not just a whip.

        It's made of the finest elk hide leather; dyed with the highest quality dyes; and the studs are not only chromed but individually polished by a specialist polishing team.

        It's not just S&M.

        It's M&S S&M.

        1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
          Happy

          It's not just S&M. It's M&S S&M.

          Nice.

          And I see you got the message about the dress code. Good.

          So many people didn't.

          They are now being punished.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    "The children pulled open one of Levandowski’s dresser drawers in his bedroom, various sized flesh coloured dildos"

    That's what happens when you go searching for Christmas presents.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      I fail to see why he would have needed any dildo size other than "majestic."

      1. MyffyW Silver badge

        "I fail to see why he would have needed any dildo size other than "majestic.""

        personally speaking I prefer to start with "slim" and work my way up to "majestic"

      2. John Smith 19 Gold badge
        Coat

        "I fail to see why he would have needed any dildo size other than "majestic."

        But that would imply he was a colossal Ahole.

        Hmm. See what you mean.

        1. This post has been deleted by its author

    2. Pompous Git Silver badge

      "That's what happens when you go searching for Christmas presents."
      In Silicone Valley...

  5. Jellied Eel Silver badge

    California

    At least I know who to consult now if I ever feel the urge to flog an elk hide. Basing a start-up in California sure seems entertaining, but perhaps they should try locating somewhere here on Earth?

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Is she really looking for money, or does she just want her 15 minutes of fame?

    (By the way, I'll have to remember to thank my wife for refusing to hire babysitters.)

    1. Pompous Git Silver badge

      "By the way, I'll have to remember to thank my wife for refusing to hire babysitters."
      The babysitter we hired to look after my youngest (who's now 33) taught him how to program computers. That's what genuine nerds do I suppose...

    2. I ain't Spartacus Gold badge

      Perhaps she wanted money, not to file the lawsuit? This looks sort of blackmail-y - given his current legal situtation - and the weird randomness of the stuff released. How can information relevant only to his other lawsuit crop up in this filing otherwise? Surely any sensible lawyer would just edit it out. Even if you put in all the minor footling complaints about having to stand too long or having your sandpit thrown away.

      Weird.

      1. David Roberts
        WTF?

        Libel, slander, legal privilege?

        If she had published this in a newspaper or a book I assume she could have been sued.

        I also assume that if it is part of a legal filing she can get it into the public domain without the same risk (possibly).

        What isn't clear is what damage she claims to have suffered to warrant $3m damages.

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Any mention of self driving dildos? Enquiring minds.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      You're thinking of the kind with wheels.

    2. Potemkine! Silver badge

      Any mention of self driving dildos?

      If it can also take the dustbin out, it's called 'a man'

  8. Simon Harris
    Joke

    The nanny thought she found some leather bondage pants...

    But they were The Wong Trousers.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: The nanny thought she found some leather bondage pants...

      I'm alert, where's the joke...

      1. This post has been deleted by its author

      2. Phil O'Sophical Silver badge

        Re: The nanny thought she found some leather bondage pants...

        I'm alert, where's the joke...

        Wensleydale?

  9. frobnicate

    Ah, Oakland...

    where the ghost of Hans Reiser dwells.

  10. jake Silver badge

    The mind boggles.

    I wonder when the "massive invasion of privacy" lawsuit hits.

  11. Throatwarbler Mangrove Silver badge
    Gimp

    Instead of just an NDA . . .

    . . . Levandowski should have had Wong under a gag order.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Instead of just an NDA . . .

      Well, she wants to see him bound over for trial...

  12. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    So, this...

    ...is where the sex party was held.

    See: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/12/silicon_valley_party

    (*SIGH*), only to be invited, or not...

  13. razorfishsl

    So... the nanny went thru their stuff when they were out,

    sounds like a massive breach of trust.

    1. Tigra 07

      RE: razorfishsl

      Makes for a good way to blackmail your employer or destroy their public image if you find anything and they won't pay up...That's what i reckon she's doing.

      Why else do we need to know he owns a dildo otherwise?

    2. John Smith 19 Gold badge
      Coat

      So... the nanny went thru their stuff when they were out,.. a massive breach of trust.

      No.

      As she tells it the kids went through their parents stuff.

      She was just tidying it up afterward. Kids, eh? What you going to do.

      She just happened to keep contemporaneous notes of everything she heard and did (which re therefor her personal property and not on behalf of her employer) while doing so.

      This is because she is a)Got a bit of APD b)Didn't trust her employer c)Planned all along to collect dirt either for herself or on the behalf of others for a spot of "Biographical leverage."

      I imagine a court will have to decide which of those reasons is/are the right one/s.

  14. morpheby

    This may actually be very clever. So she documented everything, probably with the intent to sell.

    And now she may have sold it to some side (e.g. waymo). And to make it in a clear and non-suspicios way (that would also significantly lessen chances of privacy infringement lawsuit) — she posts it in a separate lawsuit against him, that would certainly be dismissed and forgotten, till remebered at waymo-uber case.

    Let’s just see how will it come back at waymo-uber case now.

    1. tiggity Silver badge

      Photos or it did't happen

      If she was so manically documenting, and in an era where hardly anyone is without a mobile, why not the odd sneaky photo as part of her evidence?

      A bit dereliction of duty for kids to constantly go in an out of bounds (locked) bedroom and for so long.

      I cook a lot, but very little that requires a solid half hour stint in the kitchen, most meals normally have plenty of chances to take a break during prep / cooking - and if you are looking after the kids you should be making sure you are keeping an eye on them.

  15. nsld

    I guess

    He needed all that stuff to fill the time on long car journeys when the thing was driving itself........

  16. CAPS LOCK

    Seems like they deserved each other...

    ...I'm hoping both sides lose.

    1. Richard Jones 1
      Happy

      Re: Seems like they deserved each other...

      Go on, your enjoying the read like everyone else.

      Its sort of voyeurism by proxy.

    2. jake Silver badge

      Re: Seems like they deserved each other...

      I rather suspect both sides already have.

  17. Tigra 07
    Meh

    A blue butt plug? The guy is a monster...

    Seriously, if you're digging into stuff like this to get a reaction then it's clear your case needs to be sensational since you have no hard evidence. Are we expected to believe the guy is a menace to society because this woman alleges he owns sex toys?

    1. Ivan Headache

      Re: A blue butt plug? The guy is a monster...

      Are butt plugs colour coded like ski runs?

      1. toxicdragon

        Re: A blue butt plug? The guy is a monster...

        Im my experience the more colourful ones are cheap and nasty. if its plain black its usually half way decent.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: A blue butt plug? The guy is a monster...

          So the black ones are the only ones that aren't a pain in the arse?

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: A blue butt plug? The guy is a monster...

            Depends if you like cheap and nasty.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: A blue butt plug? The guy is a monster...

      I'm more concerned about the amount and types of toys he has, as it indicated he's at the amateur side of things. This shouldn't add significant value to the claim of the nanny.

      When I'm tired of being the army-of-one at work, I relax by browsing through my vast collection of BDSM gear and sex toys, invited some people over who get a thrill out of that sort of thing, and we turn it into a playdate with subsequent sleepover.

      Obviously, I'm not a family man, so I don't have to hide anything. The fact that he does, and does so in a suitcase in his own home, means this is just a poorly thought out or sporadically visited fantasy to him. A person who frequently uses sex toys and bondage gear does not do so in a house with children. I would know, as I'm storing boxes full of toys for various friends an acquaintances.

  18. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Point of note

    Just saying, regarding the header image, a ballgag doesn't work if it's just loosely dangling in front of the lips. It needs to be strapped tightly behind the front teeth to be effective. What good is a gag if your sub can just spit it out?

  19. John Sanders
    Holmes

    >>> and at one point a full inventory of 24 sex toys and associated paraphernalia that she allegedly discovered in his bedroom.

    And this is a problem? why? The man is into kink, so?

    Also 24 sex toys is not that many, does it include restraints?

    1. Unicornpiss
      Happy

      Don't those things always come in pairs?

      "Also 24 sex toys is not that many, does it include restraints?"

      When counting nipple clamps, do you count them individually, or as a set?

      1. I ain't Spartacus Gold badge
        Happy

        Re: Don't those things always come in pairs?

        When counting nipple clamps, do you count them individually, or as a set?

        Why? How many nipples have ye got?

        Just asking for a friend. Major Thou-Shalt-Not-Commit-Adultery Pulsifer, as happens. Can you tell I was listening to Good Omens on the iPlayer last night?

    2. Potemkine! Silver badge

      And this is a problem? why? The man is into kink, so?

      What would be more worrying would be his inability to protect his children from having to deal with his

      sexual behavior.

  20. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Sue the nanny $6m for neglect

    From the article:

    "That late afternoon, when Levandowski was away, Wong was in the kitchen for a period of time, the children were in Levandowski’s bedroom. Half an hour later, she walked back to Levandowski’s bedroom, Wong found his dresser drawer open and items on the floor, taken out by the children."

    Why did THE NANNY leave the kids unaccompanied in the parents bedroom for 1/2 hr?

    Particularly if that was not the first time inappropriate contents had been found there, as asserted?

    This whole thing seems utterly bizarre, and the motives of the nanny in this seem extremely questionable.

  21. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Any mention of a wife anywhere

    or does he live alone with his kids?

  22. Warm Braw

    Rich Bender and Randy

    Are these the names of the toys?

  23. Paul Smith
    IT Angle

    Why?

    Is there any particular reason that El Reg thought it important, or even relevant to post these details?

    Now had it been a blue-toothed butt-plug...

  24. Unicornpiss
    Meh

    More shaming to the nanny

    It sounds like what we have here is a clash of personalities and an opportunistic gold digger (Wong) trying to make the 'most' of a situation.

    Who truly cares in this day and age if someone has a box of dildoes under the bed? And I would consider with the amount of stress Levandowski was going through at the time, that some absentmindedness in being on time could be forgiven.

    While embarrassing to Levandowski, who is no saint himself no doubt, as pretty much none of us are, I would have to say Wong should be utterly ashamed of herself for betraying the trust given her. People like Wong are scum of the Earth. Hopefully she never manages to con anyone into trusting her again.

  25. chivo243 Silver badge

    Where is the Mom\Mrs?

    Didn't catch that in the article?

  26. Triumphantape

    Sounds more like a spy than a nanny.

    1. Maelstorm Bronze badge

      "Sounds more like a spy than a nanny."

      She's a Google plant.

  27. Bucky 2

    Sometimes a tort is not just a cake

    It will cost him $100,000 to start if he wants to defend against the lawsuit. A huge laundry list like this, call it $200,000.

    And a jury can find him partially guilty. Say they find him 95% innocent. That's $300,000 on top of everything else.

    So in the above scenario, he's $500,000 out of pocket. For a lawsuit which the newspapers would report as a win.

  28. Stevie

    Bah!

    "Quite why Wong decided she needed to make a full list of it all is never made clear."

    I imagine it was for the same reasons the Register had for printing said list.

    1. lglethal Silver badge

      Re: Bah!

      Comedy value?

  29. TrumpSlurp the Troll
    Trollface

    I always thought a ball gag

    Was a smutty joke.

    Every day is an education.

    1. TrumpSlurp the Troll
      Trollface

      Re: I always thought a ball gag

      Oh, and I always thought a butt plug was a selfie by Kim Kardashian.

      1. chivo243 Silver badge
        Paris Hilton

        Re: I always thought a ball gag

        @TrumpSlurp the Troll

        +1 is not enough!

        Baby's got back is an understatement!

        Cue Sir Mix a Lot!

        Paris is a close as icons here at El Reg get to KK

    2. TrumpSlurp the Troll

      Re: I always thought a ball gag

      Oh, and I thought Dill Dough was for herby bread - until I discovered Smirnoff.

  30. Alistair
    Windows

    all things considered

    this is all just too wong fu?

    I'm going to note that I've no idea how old the "children" in question are, and I'm not about to judge someone on how they do who they do, (allowing for consent/age things). But this sounds like a "Oh fuck this, I might as well get mine while the getting is good" action.

    Given the stew Levandowski's been simmering in, I do have to question his ethics, but I certainly don't have to question the ethics of the nanny, I *know* what they are.

  31. Slight Pause

    I suspect Google have put her up to this just to embarrass and humiliate him.

  32. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Unhappy

    OMG. I wrote APD when I was thinking ASD

    I was thinking "Autistic Spectrum Disorder" when I wrote "Antisocial Personality Disorder"

    IOW, a bit Aspers, not a bit psycho.

    Although judging by the upvotes quite a few think "Yes actually she does sound a bit psychotic" as well.

    1. Allan George Dyer
      Coat

      Re: OMG. I wrote APD when I was thinking ASD

      APD - Anti Personnel Device? Liable to explode and maim people... could fit.

  33. Phukov Andigh Bronze badge

    wow!

    Stop the presses! we've got a real CSI level Investigator Nanny right here. Specializes in fetish psychology, finance, pediatric medicine, and RF hardware expert!

    Get rid of that Mueller guy, defund the FBI, Agent Nanny is on the case!

  34. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    FFS, it's 2018, do people still think S&M is funny?

    People need to grow up a bit.

    In terms of a court case where minors are involved, then yes this needs to be exposed and discussed to understand if minors have suffered emotional distress in the course of any accidental or deliberate discoveries. My mum used to work as a legal secretary and they'd get at least one case a month where she'd have to catalogue activities and "equipment" from failed marriages breaking down.

    As adults is S&M play really that funny these days? It's usually found funny by people who've never had the intense pleasure of enjoying it and think people who do are oddbals. Spankings, beatings, light S&M with ropes and ties, toys and such really are nothing these days. My wife and I are on Lovehoney at least once a month buying a few odds and ends. Being able to give yourself freely to your partner is the ultimate in trust and strengthens a relationship with the most incredible bonds. I love my wife more than I ever have in my life, all since we started to explore our limits.

    My advice is stop smirking and start enjoying before you're too old and can't!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: FFS, it's 2018, do people still think S&M is funny?

      Says the Anonymous Coward.

  35. Maelstorm Bronze badge

    What the hell?

    I've read some crazy stories, but how does filing a legal action about various sizes of fake pricks benefit society? ...Other than showing that he has to warm up to being a huge asshole so he can take that size 14 boot where the sun doesn't shine... Perhaps he is trying to compensate for something.

    Seriously, this is funny as all hell. License plates? Times and dates? This became an obsession for the nanny.

  36. Salestard
    Stop

    Clearly she's in the wrong career

    Can recall times, events, part numbers/colours, entire conversations including names of people she's never met, licence plates, and numerous other tiny details - rather think that level of memory would be gainfully employed in some kind of security or espionage role.

    Or

    She was taking notes from day 1 with the intention of suing the snot out of him. In which case, perhaps greater rewards available operating in sleb circles, rather than silicon valley

  37. dnicholas

    Can't get the help these days... Sigh

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