Dugan Files Shocking Charges Against Academy
• As the clock inexorably ticks down to this Sunday’s 62nd Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy’s suspended Pres./CEODeborah Dugan filed an explosive complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Tuesday, alleging that she had been placed on administrative leave as retaliation for uncovering a range of misconduct at the Academy, including sexual harassment, improper voting procedures and conflicts of interest among academy board members, as detailed by The New York Times.
Ms. Dugan’s shocking 44-page complaint also alleges that she had been sexually harassed by Joel Katz, a powerful industry lawyer who represents the Grammys, claims that her predecessor, Neil Portnow, had been accused of rape by an artist, and also alleges that the Grammy’s annual nomination process is, as reported by Variety, “marred by insider dealing and corruption.” Portnow, who has not been charged with a crime, did not respond to a telephone message from the Times seeking comment, and Katz did not respond to an email requesting comment.
The various forms of bad behavior, Ms. Dugan’s complaint says, was “all made possible by the ‘boys’ club’ mentality and approach to governance at the Academy.” In response, the academy issued a statement that read, in part, “It is curious that Ms. Dugan never raised these grave allegations until a week after legal claims were made against her personally by a female employee who alleged Ms. Dugan had created a ‘toxic and intolerable’ work environment and engaged in ‘abusive and bullying conduct.'”
The Academy said that investigations into Ms. Dugan’s conduct and the allegations she raised were ongoing, and that she “was placed on administrative leave only after offering to step down and demanding $22 million from the Academy, which is a not-for-profit organization.” For her part, Dugan’s attorney called that $22 million settlement claim “flat out false.” You are advised to stay tuned… to paraphrase the great Frank Stallone, this one is “far from over.” [Photo from LinkedIn]
