Speculation over the abrupt exit of veteran music executive L.A. Reid from Sony Music last week has grown to encompass more and more controversy by the day. After leaving with no explanation, and a curiously dry and short-winded statement put out by the company in follow-up, news would break of a sexual harassment case pending against the former Epic Records head. It is now being reported that documents presented by an attorney representing the claimant, make note of administrators in the company having on occasion been informed of and turned a blind eye to complaints about Reid's passes.
The allegations made against Reid by a former female assistant were delivered to Sony's general counsel, and tell of him having made inappropriate remarks and advances on a regular basis, over a year's time. He is accused of constantly dictating what type of clothing he wanted to see her wearing to work, and the complaint cites him as having made “propositions that caused her embarrassment and distress.” What's more, the claimant states that she had gone to her supervisor about Reid's inappropriate behavior on multiple occasions, only to have been denied any course of action. The documents state that one high-ranking Epic executive responded to her complaints by warning, "Before you say anything more, think about what that means for you. Just think about what it means.”
Sony has remained silent on the pending suit. Meanwhile, word has begun to surface in support of sexual harassment claims against Reid. During Monday's [May 15] episode of Complex's Everyday Struggle, Joe Budden went all in on his former label boss, calling him a "sexual predator" and predicting that the public can expect to see lawsuits coming.
Source: billboard.com
