Epic Records Executives May Have Known About L.A. Reid’s Alleged Sexual Harassment
L.A. Reid’s abrupt exit from Epic Records last week left more questions than answers following allegations of sexual harassment from a female assistant.
Billboard reports that Epic Records executives may have known of Reid’s alleged duplicitous behavior, according to a letter written to Sony Music’s General Counsel Julie Swidler.
In the missive, the alleged victim made multiple claims of harassment against Reid, including “inappropriate physical advances” at a Christmas party last December, asking her to lay down with him and give him a hug in a hotel on a business trip, and making comments about her clothing.
The attorney’s letter points out that the accuser had complained to her immediate supervisor about Reid’s alleged misconduct, but the supervisor offered no course of action or resolution for what had taken place. The assistant also complained to another senior Epic executive about the harassment, and in response, she was told: “Before you say anything more, think about what that means for you. Just think about what it means.”
Lawyers for L.A. Reid declined to respond to the allegations. Sony also refused comment about the purported in-counsel letter.
With Reid's dismissal, it's unclear who is going to replace him at Epic, which is the label home to Future, DJ Khaled, 21 Savage, Mariah Carey and others.