Gettyimages 1188907150 594x594
Gettyimages 1188907150 594x594
Photo Credit: John Lamparski/WireImage

Former Grammys CEO Accuses Academy of Misconduct, Discrimination

Photo Credit: John Lamparski/WireImage

Deborah Dugan filed an official complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Tuesday.

Last Thursday, the Recording Academy abruptly removed its CEO, Deborah Dugan, from her position. The decision came just ten days before the 62nd Grammy Awards ceremony. In a statement, the Academy said Dugan was placed on leave "in light of concerns raised to the Academy's board of trustees, including a formal allegation of misconduct." The organization hired two independent investigators to probe the case.

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On the following Tuesday, Dugan filed a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She claims her removal was retaliation for pointing out a range of misconduct at the Academy. Dugan alleges Joel Katz, the Academy's lawyer, sexually harassed her during her brief tenure. Additionally, three weeks before her dismissal, Dugan sent a memo concerning the Academy's voting irregularities and financial mismanagement. She expressed her concerns that "something was seriously amiss at the Academy."

According to the New York Times' sources, the Academy dismissed Dugan due to a complaint filed against her. An unnamed assistant to Dugan's predecessor accused her of bullying. The assistant claims Dugan's management style caused her to take a leave of absence. Dugan's predecessor, Neil Portnow, left the Academy after receiving backlash from controversial comments regarding women in the music industry. In her brief tenure, Dugan approved a series of changes to help address issues of diversity and gender imbalance. Dugan claims the current ordeal is more evidence of the Academy being a "boy's club."

Read Dugan's 46-page official complaint here.

H/T: DAZED

SOURCE: New York Times

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