Neil Portnow, the previous chairman and president of the Recording Academy, was sued on Wednesday by a girl who claimed he drugged and raped her in a New York resort room in 2018, in keeping with the New York Times.
The allegation had beforehand surfaced in 2020 as a part of a blockbuster legal claim filed by Portnow’s successor, Deborah Dugan, after she was abruptly positioned on depart and in the end terminated after simply eight months on the job; on the time Portnow referred to as the allegations “ludicrous, and unfaithful.”
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The brand new swimsuit, filed in New York State Supreme Courtroom in Manhattan, accuses Portnow, who stepped down in 2019, of sexual battery, and accuses the academy — the nonprofit group behind the Grammys — of negligence. Dugan’s declare additionally stated the Recording Academy’s board was conscious of the allegations.
The swimsuit doesn’t identify the girl, but it surely describes her as an instrumentalist from outdoors the USA who as soon as carried out at Carnegie Corridor. The courtroom papers embody redacted associated correspondence the girl, who has not spoken of the incident publicly till now, exchanged with the academy in 2018.
“Neil Portnow provides lip service to ladies as standing up,” stated Jeffrey R. Anderson, a lawyer for the plaintiff, in keeping with the Occasions. “However he does a disservice to each girl and each musician who’s being oppressed by him and others. This isn’t nearly Neil Portnow and never simply in regards to the Recording Academy, however in regards to the tradition within the music and leisure trade and its doublespeak about rape and abuse.”
Anderson’s remark makes reference to Portnow’s controversial assertion at that yr’s Grammys, through which he responded to a query from a Selection reporter by saying that female artists and executives needed to “step up” as a way to advance within the music trade.
In an announcement, a consultant for Portnow referred to as the allegations false, and stated they had been “the product of the plaintiff’s creativeness and undoubtedly motivated by Mr. Portnow’s refusal to adjust to the plaintiff’s outrageous calls for for cash and help in acquiring a residence visa for her.”
“The newest incarnation” of her accusations, he stated, “gives a ‘new and improved’ story, padding it with much more outrageous and unfaithful allegations.”
The Recording Academy stated in an announcement to Selection: “We proceed to consider the claims to be with out benefit and intend to vigorously defend the Academy on this lawsuit.”
Within the swimsuit, the plaintiff claims she met Portnow at a Recording Academy occasion in January 2018, when the newest yr that Grammys had been held in New York. She says invited her to the ceremony, and later instructed her he would return to New York within the spring. The 2 met at his resort that June.
Portnow greeted her within the foyer and introduced her to his room, the swimsuit continues, the place he gave her Grammy memorabilia and supplied her a glass of wine. She drank however he didn’t, she says within the swimsuit, and he or she “started to really feel woozy.” She instructed him she wished to depart however he stated no taxis had been accessible, it continues.
The swimsuit says that Portnow then instructed the girl, “I’ve been desirous about you for a really very long time,” earlier than she handed out. She claims she awoke a number of occasions all through the evening whereas Portnow was sexually assaulting her. The swimsuit claims that Portnow is ignored a number of later makes an attempt by the girl to contact him. Nonetheless, it consists of and picture of a November 2018 e-mail from a lawyer for Portnow to the girl through which he wrote, “Please know that I’ve at all times revered you in each approach always, each professionally and personally. I bear in mind your indicating your curiosity and perception within the teachings of Buddha and I discovered this saying which resonates with you now: ‘Higher than a thousand hole phrases, is one phrase that brings peace.’”
The swimsuit states that the girl later filed a police report naming Portnow, in keeping with the swimsuit, though the district legal professional’s workplace had declined to prosecute.
On Wednesday, a rep for Portnow stated that after the girl’s preliminary accusation, he “instantly enlisted the Academy’s HR Division to assessment the nonsensical textual content messages and emails that he made instantly accessible. An outdoor unbiased investigation, led by top-tier attorneys, reviewed all related texts, emails, interviewed witnesses and located completely no proof to assist any of the allegations.” Nonetheless, the girl’s grievance states that she was by no means interviewed as a part of any academy investigation.
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