DC Metro's 'chief experience officer' apologizes after posting picture of a random commuter's groin to Twitter, complaining about 'manspreading'

A top D.C. Metro official apologized Tuesday for posting an image of a commuter's groin to social media and complaining of so-called manspreading.

Sarah Meyer, who previously worked as chief customer officer at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, went to work for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority as chief customer experience officer in April.

The WMATA faces many problems, some of which Meyer — who purportedly seeks to fight for "better trains, buses and public infrastructure" — could possibly raise awareness about.

According to Metro Transit Police, there have been 104 aggravated assaults, 81 attempted motor vehicle thefts, 148 motor vehicle thefts, 3 burglaries, 171 acts of larceny, 4 rapes, 568 simple assaults, 40 molestations, 1,290 fare evasions, and 177 robberies so far this year, well over double the same number of crimes committed by this time last year.

Four murders had been committed on the system as of last week.

Ronald Moten, who has long worked for violence prevention in D.C., recently told the Washington Post that crimes committed on Metro buses and trains are "normal. It's part of the behavior."

Despite the severity of the issues now facing the Metro, Meyer apparently made tackling "manspreading" a priority.

Meyer posted to Twitter a now-deleted photo of a man wearing a tie, a blue shirt, and khaki pants, presumably on his way to or from work, seated on the Metro with a backpack between his legs, reported the Washington Examiner.

Meyer captioned her June 5 post, "DC, do we really need to do a manspreading campaign on our trains?! I thought we were above this."

This so-called manspreading incident does not qualify as one of the 11 indecent exposure events that have taken place on the Metro in the past month, which Meyer did not similarly condemn online.

Meyer was soon beset by criticism and questions over her post.

Conservative commentator Matt Walsh asked Meyer, "Why are you taking pictures of a stranger's crotch and posting it to social media?"

Free marketeer and American Commitment president Phil Kerpen deemed Meyer "a creeper."

One Twitter user noted that Meyer, tasked with encouraging people to ride the Metro more often, was instead ridiculing riders.

Following the backlash, Meyer wrote, "My apologies for this tweet. It was meant in jest, but I understand how it might have offended some. I will do better and keep focused on what matters, better service, communications and wayfinding."

Meyer did not delete the tweet, however. It was taken down Tuesday by Twitter, having violated the platform's terms of service.

Metro CEO Randy Clarke indicated at the time Meyer would "focus on improving the delivery of timely and accurate information to customers at every touchpoint, through signage, search results, apps, and digital wallets" as well as "work to help make the system simpler to plan and pay for trips, to find buses or trains, and by reassuring customers that they are being taken care of by an outstanding, customer-centric workforce," reported the New York Post.