Hipgnosis locations CEO Kenny MacPherson on depart whereas he faces allegations of sexual assault from a lady who beforehand labored with him at one other firm.
Hipgnosis Songs Group has confirmed putting CEO Kenny MacPherson on a depart of absence on Tuesday (October 3) whereas he faces a sexual assault and harassment lawsuit filed by a lady who labored with him at music publishing firm Chrysalis.
Sara Lewis labored with MacPherson within the mid-2000s as an A&R whereas he was president of writer Chrysalis, which merged with BMG in 2012. She filed the lawsuit on October 4 in Los Angeles, itemizing MacPherson and BMG as defendants, alleging that his actions whereas she labored underneath his management drove her out of the music business.
Lewis says that MacPherson spent years grooming and harassing her, with non-consensual touching and sexual assault. The lawsuit particulars that she “endured an onslaught of undesirable sexual advances by MacPherson, who unabashedly used his energy and authority to precise Sara’s compliance and submission.”
“MacPherson’s sexual harassment and abuse of Sara was well-known amongst colleagues and executives, and but, moderately than assist Sara, her co-workers and supervisors chided her behind her again and shielded MacPherson from accountability,” the lawsuit reads.
For 5 years, Lewis endured near-daily harassment, culminating in MacPherson arriving at her home uninvited and kissing her with out consent. At that time, in 2007, she tried to report his habits to her supervisor, Jamie Cerreta; the swimsuit alleges that Chrysalis didn’t have a human sources division or insurance policies in place to handle sexual harassment within the office. Lewis says Cerreta didn’t take motion on her report, claiming that Chrysalis was making an attempt to “sweep it underneath the rug.”
Lewis is suing MacPherson and BMG for sexual battery, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and different claims. Attributable to California’s 2022 Sexual Abuse and Cowl-Up Accountability Act underneath which the swimsuit was filed, the statute of limitations for such lawsuits was prolonged by one yr.
“BMG stands solidly towards all types of discrimination, harassment, and abuse, and we’re shocked and dismayed by the allegations made by Sara Lewis,” mentioned BMG in a launched assertion. “As some extent of truth, BMG didn’t exist till October 1, 2008, years after the alleged occasions had occurred, and didn’t purchase Chrysalis till years later in 2011.”
Hipgnosis, the place MacPherson serves as CEO, confirmed on Tuesday that he was on a depart of absence. The corporate, which owns the catalog rights for artists together with Nile Rodgers, Justin Bieber, and Justin Timberlake, launched an announcement: “Hipgnosis Songs Fund has a coverage of zero-tolerance to harassment or abuse. Whereas these historic allegations relate to a interval 15 years earlier than Hipgnosis was based, Kenny MacPherson was positioned on depart of absence from Hipgnosis Songs Group as quickly because it grew to become conscious of the allegations. Our rigorous procedures for coping with such issues have commenced.”
MacPherson’s legal professional issued an announcement “vehemently (denying) all allegations made towards Mr. MacPherson in Ms. Lewis’ unverified grievance filed.”