Neil Portnow attends the 2023 City Of Hope Spirit Of Life Gala at Pacific Design Center on October 18, 2023.Photo:Kevin Winter/Getty
Kevin Winter/Getty
Neil Portnow is being accused of sexual battery, according toThe New York Times.
Portnowstepped down from his position in 2019following acontroversial male-dominated Grammy Awardsin 2018. The former CEO received backlash after saying that women in musicneed to “step up” if they want more Grammy Awards.
While the suit does reveal the identity of the accuser, she is described as an “instrumentalist from outside the United States who once performed at Carnegie Hall.”
The lawsuit filed at the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan states that Portnow first met the woman at a Recording Academy event in January 2018. They allegedly met up again in June of that year, and Portnow allegedly invited her up to his room, where he offered her a glass of wine.
Neil Portnow attends the Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons Honoring Julie Greenwald & Craig Kallman at The Beverly Hilton on February 04, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.Frazer Harrison/Getty
Frazer Harrison/Getty
The woman claims in the suit that she “began to feel woozy" after drinking it and became disoriented. After losing consciousness, she alleges to have woken up many times throughout the night while still inside the hotel room and seeing Portnow sexually assaulting her.
Portnow allegedly told the woman that there were no taxis available to take her home so she exited his hotel room until the next morning when Portnow attended a meeting.
The accuser is said to have reported the encounter to the Recording Academy several months later via email. The Recording Academy shared with PEOPLE in a statement, “We continue to believe the claims to be without merit and intend to vigorously defend the Academy in this lawsuit.”
“A series of erratic, bizarre text messages and e-mails to both Mr. Portnow and the Recording Academy from the Plaintiff had already persuaded numerous previous Plaintiff’s lawyers who resigned, as well as a police agency, that her claims were baseless. The latest incarnation offers a ‘new and improved’ story, padding it with even more outrageous and untrue allegations,” the statement continued.
According to the statement, “The Academy’s Executive Committee and Board of Trustees were made aware of the results of the investigation and report; subsequently, Mr. Portnow served at the helm of the Recording Academy for the balance of the term of his contract.”
It adds that Portnow “voluntarily and fully cooperated with and supported the investigation of these false allegations” and will defend the new case “with vigor and will prevail.”
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Back in 2020, Deborah Dugan, former Grammys president, filed a claim with theEqual Employment Opportunity Commissionafterbeing placed on administrative leavejust days before the2020 Grammy Awards.
source: people.com
