Six anonymous survivors filed a Dec. 17 lawsuit accusing Match Group — owner of Hinge and Tinder — of allowing and recommending the profile of Stephen Matthews after users reported predatory behavior. Matthews, a former Denver cardiologist, was convicted in October 2024 of drugging 11 women and sexually assaulting eight and was sentenced to 158 years in prison. The suit alleges the apps ignored complaints and even re-recommended his profile to a reporting user, and it seeks accountability and industry-wide safety reforms.
Six Survivors Sue Match Group, Alleging Hinge and Tinder Kept Recommending Convicted Rapist
Denver District Attorney; Silas Stein/picture alliance via GettyColorado cardiologist accused of drugging and raping 13 women; Stock photo of the dating app Hinge on an iPhone.
Six anonymous sexual assault survivors have filed a lawsuit against Match Group, the parent company of Hinge and Tinder, alleging the dating platforms continued to host and even recommend the profile of Stephen Matthews after users reported his predatory behavior.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
The complaint, filed Dec. 17 in Denver County District Court by plaintiffs identified as Jane Doe 1 through Jane Doe 6, says five of the women met Matthews on Hinge and a sixth matched with him on Tinder. According to the filing, Matthews began incapacitating and assaulting women in September 2020 and engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior that the plaintiffs say was reported to the apps.
The suit contends that Match Group kept Matthews’ account active and continued to recommend his profile to users, including at least one woman who had previously reported him for sexual assault.
Criminal Conviction and Sentence
Prosecutors say Matthews, a former Denver cardiologist, drugged 11 women he met on dating apps and sexually assaulted eight of them. In October 2024, he was convicted and sentenced to 158 years in prison — the statutory maximum. Denver District Attorney Beth McCann stated that Matthews “incapacitated his victims and then sexually assaulted eight of them.”
“This is a lawsuit against the world’s largest online dating monopoly for knowingly recommending serial rapist Dr. Stephen Matthews to women on its platforms, who he then drugged and raped,” the plaintiffs’ complaint opens.
Responses and Wider Concerns
Carrie Goldberg, an attorney representing five of the plaintiffs, framed the lawsuit as a broader challenge to safety practices across the online dating industry, saying Match Group’s market dominance has contributed to an industry-wide complacency about violence against women on dating apps.
Denver District AttorneyColorado cardiologist accused of drugging and raping 13 women
A Match Group spokesperson told ABC7 that any report of sexual assault is “heartbreaking and deeply concerning,” adding that safety is foundational to user trust and that the company has “a comprehensive suite of safety tools” and continues to invest in technology and partnerships to protect users. PEOPLE has reached out to Match Group for further comment.
Impact on Survivors
One survivor quoted in press materials said, “I matched with Stephen Matthews on Hinge. I thought I was safe. I thought he was who he said he was. I woke up in a nightmare. I woke up with injuries I will never forget,” and later learned other women had similar experiences. Victims reportedly cheered when the 158-year sentence was handed down and described unity and resolve during sentencing.
What The Lawsuit Seeks
The plaintiffs seek to hold Match Group accountable for allegedly continuing to permit and promote Matthews’ presence on its platforms after users flagged him for sexual violence. Beyond seeking redress for the survivors, the lawsuit aims to spotlight and force improvements in app safety practices industry-wide.
Resources
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit RAINN.org for resources and support.
Reporting: The criminal convictions and sentencing were announced by prosecutors in October 2024. The civil lawsuit was filed Dec. 17 in Denver County District Court.
