Los Angeles (AFP)
The Recording Academy, the American record industry association that notably organizes the Grammy Awards, officially dismissed its former boss on Monday, who was already laid off in late January after laying serious charges against the organization.
The Academy terminated the contract which bound it with Deborah Dugan via a letter, widely distributed among members of the profession, which accuses the ex-CEO of "deficiencies and failures in his management".
In late January, Ms. Dugan had filed a complaint in Los Angeles with the Equal Opportunities Commission, accusing the Academy of discrimination and harassment.
First woman to have directed the Academy, she detailed in her complaint accusations ranging from sexual harassment to conflict of interest through irregularities in the votes for the Grammy Awards.
Deborah Dugan also claimed to have been pressured to hire her predecessor, Neil Portnow, as a consultant, when she was suspected within the organization of raping a musician, "the real reason why her contract had not been renewed "after 17 years.
Neil Portnow had formally denied, claiming that the complaint "was riddled with inaccurate, false, scandalous and terribly painful accusations" against him.
Ms. Dugan felt that her layoff was a retaliatory measure from the Academy.
"Although I am disappointed, I am not surprised given the way in which the Academy is used to treating whistleblowers," reacted Dugan to the announcement of her dismissal, in a statement sent to AFP through its lawyers.
"Instead of trying to reform this corrupt institution from the inside, I will persevere to face up to their responsibilities those who continue their small arrangements, tarnish the voting process at the Grammy Awards and discriminate against women and people of color, "she said.
"Artists deserve better. For me, that is the true meaning of + going up a gear", concluded Ms. Dugan.
This pike was addressed to Mr. Portnow, who had been strongly criticized for remarks deemed sexist. He said women need to "step up a gear" to justify that few of them have won awards at the 2018 Grammy Awards.
© 2020 AFP